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CONRGRATULATIONS to this year's Writing Award winners! Recipients are listed below by award genre (Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction/Journalism). Winners were announced at the award ceremony on Thursday, April 30th, 2026.
FICTION
Dick Shea Memorial Award
The purpose is to make an award to an undergraduate or graduate student showing creativity in writing poetry and fiction. A poem or short story is to be selected yearly by a committee made up of English professors concerned with creative writing.
Winner: Aspen Kidd, "Little Intimacies"
Frederick Hyde Hibberd ’88 Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for undergraduate English majors with a concentration in creative writing.
Winner: Madeline Randall
Lt. Albert A. Charait Fund
For best Short Story/Fiction.
Winner: Madeline Randall, "Is This What Love Is Supposed to Feel Like?"
Young Dawkins III Prize in Creative Writing
The 'Young P. Dawkins III Prize in Creative Writing' will instead be awarded to the graduating student with the most outstanding thesis in the M.F.A. program.
Winner: Rowan Wilson, "The Summer of Unanswerable Questions and Important Lost Memories"
Richard M. Ford Endowed Memorial Fund
Award for an undergraduate student involved in writing courses of fiction, non-fiction or poetry who has demonstrated excellence.
Winner: Amber Ferrier, "The Attic"
Thomas Williams Memorial Fund
The Thomas Williams Memorial Fund is established at the University of New Hampshire with gifts from private donors.
Winner: Rowan Wilson, "Hole"
Honorable Mentions
Nina Lingamfelter, "Getting Bagels"
Savannah Stone, "Glider Plane"
Anna Mangum, "Country Club People"
Carrie Alice Hiltz, "July"
POETRY
Dick Shea Memorial Award
The purpose is to make an award to an undergraduate or graduate student showing creativity in writing poetry and fiction. A poem or short story is to be selected yearly by a committee made up of English professors concerned with creative writing.
Winner: Blake Harrsch, "After the Service" and "Chit Chat Diner"
Frederick Hyde Hibberd ’88 Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for undergraduate English majors with a concentration in creative writing.
Winner: Chloe Rattee
Richard M. Ford Endowed Memorial Fund
Award for an undergraduate student involved in writing courses of fiction, non-fiction or poetry who has demonstrated excellence.
Winner: Sonnen Bolevic, "Pinning of the Hornworm Tachnid" and "Toast"
Young Dawkins III Prize in Creative Writing
The 'Young P. Dawkins III Prize in Creative Writing' will instead be awarded to the graduating student with the most outstanding thesis in the M.F.A. program.
Winner: Kevin Le, "Flowerfield: Poems"
Winner: Andrew Kelly, "Decent Wings"
Honorable Mentions
Lily Cassely, "There Are No Natural Predators in Boston" and "Towards Abstraction"
Olivia Macneil, "Counter Talk" and "Undergrad Salary Scene"
NONFICTION & JOURNALISM
Don Murray Memorial Scholarship
Scholarships for students majoring in English/Journalism who demonstrate a passion for nonfiction storytelling.
Winner: Sophia Schlichtmann
Frederick Hyde Hibberd ’88 Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for undergraduate English majors with a concentration in creative writing.
Winner: Sophia Lorom
Nonfiction Graduate Award
Rewards outstanding work in narrative nonfiction by a graduate student. Submissions may include research-based narratives, personal essay, or memoir.
Winner: Hayley Balter, "You Look Great"
John Hanlon Memorial Scholarship
Merit-based scholarships for students studying Journalism. Preference for students who demonstrate an interest in sports writing.
Winner: Aiden Szymanski
Natalie Jacobson Journalism Scholarship
Scholarships for journalism students who are curious, passionate, and recognize the importance of community and the role that better reporting plays in changing the world. Recipients must have a strong journalistic background.
Winner: Valerie Reynolds
Richard Ford Endowed Memorial Fund
Award for an undergraduate student involved in writing courses of fiction, non-fiction or poetry who has demonstrated excellence.
Winner: Samantha Kimball, "It’s All Burning: What Vancouver Island, and my great aunt, can’t deny"
Tad R. Ackman Jr. & Robin D. Gorsky Scholarship Fund
Merit-based scholarship support for students majoring in Journalism.
Winner: Adria Meadvin
Young Dawkins III Prize in Creative Writing
The 'Young P. Dawkins III Prize in Creative Writing' will instead be awarded to the graduating student with the most outstanding thesis in the M.F.A. program.
Winner: Katayoun Hashemin, "Rooms I Still Walk Through"
Winner: Hayley Balter, "How I Remember It"
Winner: Steph George, "The Underlife"
Michael Kelly Journalism Scholarship
Supports sophomore and junior students who have been active in, and are passionate about, journalism.
Winner: Chandler Blaisdell
Jessica York Graves Scholarship
To provide scholarship support for students studying journalism.
Winner: Sarah Sarkin
Winner: Emily Kiah
Honorable Mention
Aulia Castellano, "My Name Is Not Your Entertainment"
Thomas Williams Memorial Award
In memory of former UNH professor and National Book Award winning novelist, Thomas Williams. The Thomas Williams Memorial Fund was established with gifts from private donors. This Award recognizes excellence in graduate student fiction writing.
Richard M. Ford Writing Award
This Fund was established by Mr. and Mrs. William J. Ford in memory of their son Richard M. Ford, a member of the Class of 1980. The Ford Memorial Fund provides one to three annual awards, one to a student majoring in Chemistry (and awarded by that department), and one split among three undergraduate students in English (one each in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry). It is the donor’s intent to honor undergraduate scholarship, creativity, and academic achievement. Financial need is not to be considered as a factor in making this award.
Dick Shea Memorial Award
This award was established by friends and family in memory of Richard John Shea, Class of 1961, and will be granted to the undergraduate or graduate student showing creativity in writing poetry or fiction.
Lt. Albert A. Charait Award
This Fund was established by Mrs. Charait in memory of her husband who died in action during WWII. This gift will be awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student who writes the best short story.
Michael Kelly Memorial Scholarship
This fund is established in memory of Michael Kelly, Class of 1979, who died covering the war in Iraq. This Scholarship supports sophomore and junior students who have been active in, and are passionate about, journalism. Recipients need not be journalism majors. Preference will be given to highly-motivated original thinkers, without reference to gpa. Please submit a cover letter, essay, and up to five published newspaper or magazine articles are required. The essay should be 750-800 words describing your journalism experience, your passion for journalism, and your plans for any future work connected with journalism.
Young Dawkins III Prize
For a graduating student with the most outstanding thesis in the MFA program.
Nonfiction Graduate Award
This prize is supported by an anonymous donor to reward outstanding work in narrative nonfiction by a graduate student. Submissions may include research-based narratives, personal essay, or memoir of no more than 5,000 words.
