The Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Scholarship Competition is an annual, no-fee contest administered by Interlochen Arts Academy, a residential arts high school in Northern Michigan. Funded by the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation, the scholarship awards full tuition, room, and board to one winning writer, renewable for each year of enrollment. The competition is open to students currently in grades 8 through 11; students already enrolled at Interlochen are ineligible. Submissions for the 2027–28 school year are open from September 3 until the deadline of November 16, 2026. Beyond the financial award, the scholarship represents an institutional commitment to nurturing young literary talent within a dedicated arts community. Interlochen’s Creative Writing major offers intensive studio practice, mentorship, and a cohort of peers equally serious about the craft. The scholarship thus functions as both a validation of early promise and a gateway to a formative educational experience. The curatorial vision is straightforward: to identify the most compelling teen writers in the United States and abroad. There is no prescribed theme or genre; the jury seeks evidence of original voice, technical control, and imaginative risk. The competition is merit-based and does not charge an entry fee, underscoring its accessibility. For young writers poised to dedicate themselves to serious study, this is a rare and consequential opportunity.