Writing Prize Competition 2023 Results

Students will be notified directly regarding prize details. Awards given out on April 14th from 2:30-4:30pm in the Elliston Poetry Room (Langsam 646). 

Academy of American Poets Prize: Best single poem.

Winner: Soumya Jaiswal as Rava Kumari

Honorable Mention: Grace Guy as Astrid Kinsey

Judge: Dorothy Chan

Dorthy is the author of five poetry collections, including the forthcoming, Return of the Chinese Femme (Deep Vellum Books Fall 2023 / Spring 2024). They are an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of Honey Literary Inc, 501(c)(3) BIPOC literary arts organization, run by women, femme, and queer editors of color. Visit their website at dorothypoetry.com.

 

English Composition Prize: Outstanding Essays written for an ENGL1000, 1001, 1002, 1012 or 2089 class. 

First Prize: Niyati Kanchan as Kaira Kahaani

Second Prize: Case Grillot as Sam Arkand  

Third Prize: Anish Gangavaram as Rocky Bhai

Judges: Beverly Brannan, Mary Leech, and Ron Hundemer

 

Hopton Short Story Prize: Best short story of 12 pages or less.

Winner: Lili Alimohammadi as Noora Or

Honorable mention: Holly Deschene as Emma Promise 

Honorable mention: Rosie Ward as Grace Peony

Judges: Lisa Ampleman, Chris Bachelder

 

Jean Chimsky Poetry Prize: Outstanding group of three to five poems.

Winner: Lili Alimohammadi as Noora Or

Honorable Mention: Varsha Vinod as Doctor Charm

Judge: Alecia Beymer

 

Literary Nonfiction Prize: Best submission of 10 pages or less. 

Winner: Marianna Dionysiou as Kiwi Banana 

Honorable Mention: Morgan Weltzer as Megan Smith 

Judges: Michael Griffith, Alecia Beymer

 

Playwriting Prize: Best drama or play.

Winner: Zoe Peterson as Maxine Torrance

Judge: Jennifer Glaser

 

Professional Writing Prize: Excellence in professional writing.

1st Place: Lily Stewart, Will Mnich, Sadie Pan as Team LinkedIn 

2nd Place: Marianna Dionysiou as Olive Almond 

Judges: Teresa Cook, Michele Griegel-McCord

 

Robinson Essay Prize: Outstanding essay.

First Prize: Lily Stewart as Star Chickweed 

Tie for Second Prize: Ashley Bruner as Clarissa Preston and Hannah Barton as Luella Bennet

Judges: Gary Vaughn, Tamar Heller, Leland Person

 

Screenplay Prize: Best short screenplay of 10 pages or less. 

Winner: Zoe Peterson as Eve Hagar

Judges: Rebecca Lindenberg

 

Shakespeare Prize:  Best essay written on Shakespeare.

Winner: Lily Stewart as Star Chickweed 

Judges: Beverly Brannan, Joanna Huh, Gary Vaughn

 

Staples Capstone Prize:  Best capstone project in any English capstone course this academic year.

Winner: Marianna Dionysiou as Tangarine August

2nd Place: Lily Stewart, Julia Funk, Liam Richissin as Team Grosbeck  

Honorable Mention: Bethany See as Nicole Smith as & Maria Adams as Strawberry Shortcake

Judge: Lisa Beckelhimer, Cheli Reutter 

 

Academy of American Poets Prize: Best single poem.

Winner: Hassaan Mirza as Stoning Rolls

Honorable Mention: Violeta Orozco as Nighting Gale

Judge: Yesenia Montilla

Yesenia is an Afro-Latina poet & a daughter of immigrants. She received her MFA from Drew University in Poetry & Poetry in translation. She is a CantoMundo graduate fellow and a 2020 NYFA fellow. Her work has been published in Academy of American Poets Poem-a-Day, Prairie Schooner, Gulf Coast and in Best of American Poetry 2021 and 2022. Her first collection The Pink Box is published by Willow Books & was longlisted for a PEN Open Book award. Her second collection Muse Found in a Colonized Body published by Four Way Books was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2023. She lives in Harlem, NY.

 

Hatfield/Westheimer Short Story Prize: Best short story of 10 pages or less.

First Prize: Hassaan Mirza as Stoning Rolls

Second Prize: Alida Dean as Kim Wexler 

Third Prize:  Daniel Hunt as Zane Madish

Judge: Robin McLean

 

Jean Chimsky Poetry Prize: Outstanding group of three to five poems.

Winner: Rome Hernández Morgan as Rowing Stones

Honorable Mention: Sean Ayres as Albert Affirmations

Judge: Felicia Zamora

 

Literary Nonfiction Prize: Best submission of 10 pages or less. 

First Prize: Rome Hernández Morgan as Rowing Stones

Honorable Mention: Nicholas Molbert as Mark Barlow

Judges: Lisa Ampleman, Laura Micciche

 

Playwriting Prize: Best play.
No award given this year. 

Professional Writing Prize: Excellence in professional writing.
No award given this year. 

 

Robin Sheets Critical Essay Prize: Best critical essay. 

Tie for First Prize:  Nicholas Molbert as Mark L. Barlow  & Alida Dean as Kim Wexler

Judges: Cheli Reutter & Jennifer Glaser

 

Shakespeare Prize:  Best essay written on Shakespeare.
No award given this year.