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, May 1st, 2025.
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: Rowan Wilson, “Erased”
Honorable Mention: Annie Montanus, “Casual”
Frederick Hyde Hibberd ’88 Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for undergraduate English majors with a concentration in creative writing.
Winner: Callan McCormick
Lt. Albert A. Charait Fund
For best Short Story/Fiction.
Winner: Jagger Lovely, “In the Early Morning Sun”
Honorable Mention: Casey Dow, “Empirical”
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: Laura Chisholm, “Object Lessons”
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: Sarah Nicholls, “No Other Gods”
Honorable Mention: Evan Weichert, “We Clean His Room”
Thomas Williams Memorial Fund
The Thomas Williams Memorial Fund is established at the University of New Hampshire with gifts from private donors.
Winner: Frances Cook, “Cobble Beach”
Honorable Mention: Dani Mueller, “Offset”
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: Caleb Jagoda, “Ode to my Mother Listening to 90s R&B”
Honorable Mention: Kevin Le, “Love Song Where Nothing’s Spoken”
Honorable Mention: Skylar Miklus, “limulus polyphemus”
Honorable Mention: Cari Moll, “Penny”
Frederick Hyde Hibberd ’88 Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for undergraduate English majors with a concentration in creative writing.
Winner: Olivia MacNeil
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: Cameron Whitney, “Honey Unspoiled, Stored Proper, Ancient Tombs”
Honorable Mention: Olivia MacNeil, “The Scaling of Fish”
Honorable Mention: Chloe Ratee, “Anti’s in the Cabinet”
Honorable Mention: Casey Dow, "Bird Poem #2"
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: Skylar Miklus, “Body Rumors: Poems”
NONFICTION & JOURNALISM
Don Murray Memorial Scholarship
Scholarships for students majoring in English/Journalism who demonstrate a passion for nonfiction storytelling.
Winner: Makayla Panzer
Frederick Hyde Hibberd ’88 Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for undergraduate English majors with a concentration in creative writing.
Winner: Samantha Kimball
Nonfiction Graduate Award
Rewards outstanding work in narrative nonfiction by a graduate student. Submissions may include research-based narratives, personal essay, or memoir.
Winner: Steph George, “Nothing Happened at Zhang’s Kitchen”
Honorable Mention: Katayoun Hashemin, “ The Curious Lives of Unwanted Things”
John Hanlon Memorial Scholarship
Merit-based scholarships for students studying Journalism. Preference for students who demonstrate an interest in sports writing.
Winner: Makena Lee
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: Samantha Kimball
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: Christa McCormick, “I Held the Flashlight”
Honorable Mention: Samantha Kimball, “The Busser, The Dishwasher, and the First-Class Flyer”
Tad R. Ackman Jr. & Robin D. Gorsky Scholarship Fund
Merit-based scholarship support for students majoring in Journalism.
Winner: Makayla Panzer
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: Bianca Bourgault, “After Another”
Michael Kelly Journalism Scholarship
Supports sophomore and junior students who have been active in, and are passionate about, journalism.
Winner: Delaney Nickerson
Jessica York Graves Scholarship
To provide scholarship support for students studying journalism.
Winner: Samantha Kimball
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.
