The individuals who devote time and energy to judging are contest entries are a special brand of people. They do it for the love of words, and we owe them a round of appreciation. Thank you to our judges!
Theme Contest: “Writing Through Difficulties” – 8 entries
Judge: Jonny Leach
Jon Leach teaches composition, ESL, and research writing at Emporia State University. His own research focuses on pedagogical applications of graphic narratives. In addition to work with the written word, he is a co-founder of the No Coast Film Fest and sits on the film selection committee.
1st Place: The Write Life, Sandee Lee, D5
2nd Place: The Write Turn, Julie A. Sellers, D1
3rd Place: Writing for the Future, Amy Ackerman, D5
Writing for Youth – 17 entries
Judge: Lydia Kautz
Lydia Kautz has been in journalism for nine years. She is currently the editor of the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle.
1st Place: The Things We Can’t Change, Julie A. Sellers, D1
2nd Place: Regulation Ten, Carrie Hansen, NM (Manhattan)
3rd Place: Rescue at Red Dog Mine, Nancy Julien Kopp, D4
Honorable Mention: Snuggle Into History, Nancy Julien Kopp, D4
Honorable Mention: Annabel and Flip, Jerilynn Henrikson, D2
Honorable Mention: Mickey of the Neighborhood, Marilyn Hope Lake, D2
Flash Fiction – 11 entries
Judge: Lydia Kautz
1st Place: Guilty, by Julie A. Sellers, D1
2nd Place: In My Room, by Sandee Lee, D5
3rd Place: The Last on Bonton, Roger Heineken, NM (Emporia)
Honorable Mention: Breathe, Katherine Lee Rathburn, NM (Osawatomie)
Honorable Mention: Yours, Mine, Ours, Julie A. Sellers, D1
First Chapter of a Book – 26 entries
Judge: Amy Sage Webb-Baza
Amy Sage Webb-Baza is Professor of English and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Emporia State University, where she was named Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor and directs the Donald Reichardt Center for Publishing and Literary Arts. She is managing editor for Bluestem Press and Flint Hills Review. She publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, and is author of Save Your Own Life: Kansas Stories.
1st Place: A Vegas Kind of Love, Martha Danielson, D5
2nd Place: Ada and the Vote, Lindsey Bartlett, D2
3rd Place: The Hoping Well, Michael Stewart, D1
Honorable Mention: Lost to History, Aimee Gross, D1
The Alchemists Law Boy, Aimee Gross, D1
Short Story – 11 entries
Judge: Michaela Karr
Michaela Riley Karr is the author of a five-book fantasy series, The Story of the First Archimage, as well as a memoir, The Desire to Know. Karr was raised in Olathe, Kansas and now lives in Emporia, Kansas on a goat ranch with her husband and two children. She received her master’s degree in English from Emporia State University.
1st Place: The Mystery at the Salon, Julie A. Sellers, D1
2nd Place: The Grim Reaper, Julie A. Sellers, D1
3rd Place: According to Plan, Alisha Davis, NM (Topeka)
Honorable Mention: The Homeless Woman, Brett Wilkinson, D4
Honorable Mention: Grounded, Connie White, D5
Memoir and Inspiration – 37 entries
Judge: Will Austin
Will Austin teaches language courses at Emporia State University.
1st Place: What, What Will We Do, Claire McMurry, NM (Lenexa)
2nd Place: Morning Dove, Aimee Gross, D1
3rd Place: The Landscape of Childhood, Janice Northerns, D7
Honorable Mention: A Perfect Moment, Jen Moran, NM (Salina)
Honorable Mention: The Watermelon, Barbara Waterman-Peters, D1
Honorable Mention: Hope is Red, Melody J. Cole, D6
Humor – 20 entries
Judge: Marcia Lawrence
Born and raised in Barber County, Kansas, Marcia Lawrence has worked as a journalist, photo-finish photographer, stockbroker, editor, corn detasseler, musician, and mom. She is a lifelong scholar of regional history and a passionate researcher. Lawrence is the author of SPIRIT OF THE PRAIRIE: THE HISTORY OF THE MAKING OF THE MEDICINE LODGE INDIAN PEACE TREATY PAGEANT. She's currently researching and writing the biography of Franklin L. Gilson, legendary founder of the Speech and Theatre Department at the Kansas State Normal (now ESU) and author of the play JOHN BARCLAY, based on William Allen White's best seller, A CERTAIN RICH MAN. If all goes according to plan, PROFESSOR OF PAGEANTRY will make its debut in 2022. She lives in Emporia, Kansas.
1st Place: Faculty Performance Appraisal, Julie A. Sellers, D1
2nd Place: Ten Little Birds, A Tragic Tale of Attrition, Jerilynn Henrikson, D2
3rd Place: Cleanliness is next to… Last on My List, Janice Northerns, D7
Honorable Mention: Who’s in Charge Here, Janice Northerns, D7
Honorable Mention: That’s Enough, Sandee Lee, D5
Playwriting – 6 entries
Judge: Antonio Sanchez
Tony Sanchez is a husband and a father of two amazing young adults. He has had a lifelong love affair with the theatre and has acted and directed various plays and musicals. Some of his favorites include Neil Simon’s RUMORS, and TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD. His favorite moment in any production is the first table read-thru. Oh the possibilities! Tony is a board member of the Pittsburg Community Theater. He is also on the campaign leadership team for the renovation of the Colonial Fox Theatre in Pittsburg, KS. When he is not busy with all things theatre, he makes a living as Realtor with Reece Nichols Sunflower Realty Group LLC. He is currently serving as President of the Pittsburg Board of Realtors.
1st Place: Party Line, Julie A. Sellers, D1
2nd Place: Gretchen Eick, D5
3rd Place: Guner, Ray Racobs, D5