Utmost Atmos presents…
The 2026 Earthlight Story Awards
The Utmost Atmos 2026 Earthlight Story Awards provide a platform for students to share their ideas and perspective about environmental consciousness and climate change through narrative storytelling. It aims to encourage students to take an interest in protecting the environment and share their ideas with the community. As a form of recognition and appreciation, we offer prizes up to $300 and the opportunity to be featured on our website.
All prizes will be matched as a donation to the winners’ schools.
Sample Prompts
Not sure where to get started? The following are sample prompts on which participants may choose to base their story:
An ordinary kid transforms into an environmental superhero overnight! What will they do with their newfound power?
Envision and write about a 100% sustainable society.
You shrink to the size of an ant. What hidden worlds do you notice?
One spring day, all the plants in the community garden suddenly go missing. Can you uncover the mystery?
A group of friends starts an upcycling club that turns into something much bigger. What happens next?
Create your own prompt: tell us your own story!
These prompts here to spark your creativity—you are not required to follow them!
Students may enter the division based on their grade level:
Elementary Division: 5th grade and under
Junior High Division: 6th grade - 8th grade
Submission Guidelines:
Entries must be related to the theme. Participants may choose to answer a prompt, but this is not required nor will it affect the judging process.
Entries must be short stories with a 500-word maximum for the elementary division and 1500-word maximum for the junior high division.
Entries must be individual submissions. However, each student can submit up to three (3) short stories but only one submission is eligible for a cash prize.
All entries must be the participant’s original work. Any work that is found to be plagiarized will be disqualified.
The deadline to submit is May 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.
Prizes:
Earthlight Grand Award (chosen from either division): $300
The top three winners of each division (elementary and junior high) will receive a monetary award as follows:
1st: $100
2nd: $50
3rd: $25
All participants will receive a small prize and certificate of recognition.
All monetary prizes will be matched and donated to the participant’s school PTA to raise climate change awareness.
Participants will have the opportunity to have their work featured on our website.
Any entries deemed inappropriate, offensive, or not relevant to the theme will not be considered.
For questions, please email us at admin@utmostatmos.org.
We look forward to reviewing your stories!