Thanks, Rob! Yeah, I'm excited to get working with him!

Thank you! Trying to make the leap to these quieter pastures.

I think the Nicholl pedigree is still potent even after the other announcements. Tho it's probably good to get ahead of the competition by querying before the Academy distributes the Quarterfinalists list to industry.

More so now (w/ reps, NOT producers esp. signatories) I've heard from more than one rep that they now have more time reading scripts because they aren't busy selling scripts and clients.

I do. Once I have the deadlines for the top half dozen contests for the year, I map out a plan to complete a draft or rewrite by then. Because like you, without deadlines, I feel I can go on tinkering forever...

In my experience, querying is where a Nicholl quarterfinalist placement has the most value. I suggest to all Nichol QTs to query reps with "Nicholl Quarterfinalist screenplay..." in the subject line while you have "heat." This pedigree has real currency.
#scriptskychat

I use competitions for 1) deadlines that force me to finish drafts 2) wins/placements to better my query emails 3) direct promotion of my scripts to industry (by reputable contests only).
#scriptsky

Your students are lucky to have you as a teacher!