Each year, the Alabama Writers’ Forum recognizes outstanding young writers, their teachers and schools with the Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards. This year, more than 300 submissions were received from high schools across the state, from Anniston to Gulf Shores. Twenty-five top level awards were given, including four for literary magazines and four senior scholarships. Ninety-four winners were recognized in total.

Dr. Susie Paul, former AUM English professor and chair of the AHSLAA judges, sees the annual program as an opportunity for students to show their promise and be recognized. “In a world where dead honesty seems in decline, where failures to feel empathy and compassion lead to immense suffering, our high school students are writing their hearts out, finding the courage to do so, and succeeding, powerfully.”

Each year, submissions are accepted in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, senior portfolio and literary magazine. Brand new this year is the Judith Hillman Paterson Award for Excellence in Essay Writing, given in memory of beloved Alabama writer Judy Paterson with support from her friend and former AWF board member Ruth Ott of Montgomery. The 2022 winners, their teachers and schools are listed below.

Five award-winning writers with Alabama connections served as the 2022 judges. Frye Gaillard, author of more than 30 books, including the recently released Southernization of America with Pulitzer Prizing winning journalist Cynthia Tucker, judged creative nonfiction and the Paterson Award. Ravi Howard, author of Like, Trees, Walking and Driving the King, judged fiction, while Jason McCall, an award-winning poet and co-editor with P.J. Williams of It Was Written: Poetry Inspired by Hip-Hop, judged the poetry submissions. James M. Hilgartner, professor of English at Huntingdon College and fiction editor of THAT Literary Review, reviewed the senior portfolio scholarship submissions, and Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers’ Forum, reviewed the literary magazine submissions.

According to Gaillard, “Judging literary contests is always hard and this one was no exception. The winning entries were really good. It’s especially heartening to see both the talent and the promise, the honesty and heart, demonstrated by these young writers. Many of them are so much better than I was at their age. The key as always is to read and write. That’s how all writers grow.”

The awards encourage young writers, notes Alabama Writers’ Forum executive director Thompson. “It is so important at their age to receive recognition and support. Many young writers discover their voices, and their life’s path, through creative writing in high school. And often a caring and dedicated teacher has been the key.”

Paul, who is also a published poet, adds, “these students are like precious, precious seeds that must be nurtured. Imagine a world without who they are and what they bring.”

For more information on the Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards, including how to submit for next year’s awards, see our

 

 

2022 Alabama High School Literary Arts Awardees

 

CREATIVE NONFICTION LONG ESSAY WINNERS

  • First Place: Sofia Crescenzi, student of TJ Beitelman, Alabama School of Fine Arts
  • Second Place: William Bittner, student of Iris Rinke-Hammer, Alabama School of Fine Arts
  • Third Place: Patrick Smith, student of Jessica Boothe, Loveless Academic Magnet Program
  • The Judith Hillman Paterson Award for Excellence in Essay Writing: Isabella Cox, student of TJ Beitelman, Alabama School of Fine Arts

 

CREATIVE NONFICTION SHORT ESSAY WINNERS

  • Hanna Robinson, student of Jessica Boothe, Loveless Academic Magnet Program
  • Anmol Guard, student of Jessica Boothe, Loveless Academic Magnet Program
  • Katherine Tanner, student of Brandy Panagos, Bob Jones High School
  • Haley Pate, student of Iris Rinke-Hammer, Alabama School of Fine Arts
  • Anna Thornton, student of Amy Box, Springville High School
  • Kathleen Doyle, student of Jessica Boothe, Loveless Academic Magnet Program
  • Kathleen Druhan, student of Jessica Boothe, Loveless Academic Magnet Program

 

FICTION WINNERS

  • First Place: Whitney Veazey, student of Naomi Pryer, Greenville High School
  • Second Place: Kate Ulrich, student of Foster Dickson, Booker T. Washington Magnet School
  • Third Place: William Bittner, student of Iris Rinke-Hammer, Alabama School of Fine Arts

 

POETRY WINNERS

  • First Place: Amy Athing, student of Brandy Panagos, Bob Jones High School
  • Second Place: Jillian Naylor, student of Michelle Sisson, Lee High School
  • Third Place: William Bittner, student of Iris Rinke-Hammer, Alabama School of Fine Arts

 

LITERARY MAGAZINE COMPETITION WINNERS

Exceptional Literary Content

Cadence (Alabama School of Fine Arts)
Editors: Parker Snellgrove and Grace Sullivan, students of Iris Rinke-Hammer

Judge’s Special Recognition for Exceptional Literary Content

Harmoniouslee (Lee High School)
Editor: Colby Meeks, student of Michelle Sisson

Exceptional Graphic Design and Layout

Harmoniouslee (Lee High School)
Editor: Colby Meeks, student of Michelle Sisson

Judge’s Special Recognition for Exceptional Graphic Design and Layout

Verisimilitude (Gulf Shores High School)
Editor: Molly Malone, student of Jessica Sampley

 

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

  • Lucy Gardner, student of Renee Chow, Indian Springs High School, winner of the Marvin Lee Paul and Helen Scott Paul Senior Portfolio Scholarship
  • Katherine Tanner, student of Brandy Panagos, Bob Jones High School, winner of the Ruth & Jay Ott Senior Portfolio Scholarship
  • Elloway Wyatt, student of Amy Box, Springville High School, winner of the Mozelle Purvis Shirley Senior Portfolio Scholarship
  • E. Miller, student of Ashley Jones, Alabama School of Fine Arts, winner of the Wayne Greenhaw Memorial Senior Portfolio Scholarship