The 2024 Writing Awards submission window is now closed. 2025 submissions will be accepted in March.
Congratulations to the writing award winners of 2024!
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: Dani Mueller, "Bodyworker"
- Honorable Mention: Parker Malkoc, "Deep Shrimp"
- Honorable Mention: Rem Hunt, “A Conversation We Might Have Had If You Weren't Zooming Instead”
Lt. Albert A. Charait Fund
For best Short Story/Fiction.
- Winner: Clarissa Gowing, "Skipping Stones"
- Honorable Mention: Rachel Pincince, "Parental Love"
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: Thomas Stewart, "The New Martin Miraculo"
- Honorable Mention: Madeline Linhart, "Independence Day"
Thomas Williams Memorial Fund
The Thomas Williams Memorial Fund is established at the University of New Hampshire with gifts from private donors. Funds are to be used by the English Department for such purposes as graduate student awards/scholarships; honoraria for guest speakers, etc.
- Winner: Noah Kenny, "Water"
- Honorable Mention: Catherine Casey, "Sisters"
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: Evangeline Stuart, "Brittle is the Brimstone"
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: Mathew Mallory Dinaro, "The Bullies and Gomorrah"
- Honorable Mention: Caleb Jagoda, "Making Dinner"
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: Andrew Kelly, "Finding Out"
- Honorable Mention: Keri Stewart, "Golden Crowned Kinglet"
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.
- Winners (tie): Julia Roch, "Good Ghost" & Matthew Mallory Dinaro, "And Before We Know It, We Are Gone
Graduate Poetry Honorable Mentions
- Haley Hodge, "Fish Scales"
- Julia Roch, "If You Can't Go Home, Where Will You Haunt"
Undergraduate Poetry Honorable Mentions
- Amelia Weldon, "A Single Photo"
- Eadie Molesworth, "Excuse me"
NONFICTION & JOURNALISM
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.
- Winner: Isabel Dreher, "The Sweet Life of Chef Todd"
Grad Nonfiction Award
Supports awards for outstanding students of journalism. This prize was established by a variety of sources, including the NH Press Women in memory of Ann Marie LeClair and the Charles Simic MacArthur fund, and rewards outstanding work in narrative nonfiction by a graduate student. Submissions may include research-based narratives, personal essay, or memoir.
- Winner: Bianca Bourgault, "Sip of Soda"
- Honorable Mention: Katayoun Hashemin, "Protest Free & Die"
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: Jade Kwitkiwski, "Restart"
- Honorable Mention: Katelyn Clark, "Tender"
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: Is Curtis, "Violating Community Guidelines: Essays on Pop Culture"
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.
