Hastings College will recognize 19 outstanding young writers from across Nebraska as an affiliate of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards during a virtual ceremony on March 8 at 7:00 p.m. (Central).
The award program is one of the country’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition programs for creative students in grades 7-12. This is the second year Hastings College has been an affiliate for the writing awards.
Award recipients will be recognized during the virtual ceremony, which will also feature Matt Mason, the Nebraska State Poet, as a keynote speaker.
“We were very fortunate to receive many submissions this year from across the state. Reading through different writing entries was just wonderful, as there are many talented, young writers in Nebraska. We’re honored to celebrate and recognize the top award recipients,” said Dr. Ben Waller, Hastings College professor of English and chair of the Languages and Literatures Department.
To celebrate their hard work, Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention works will be available in a publication from Hastings College Press. The book plus certificates and other elements will be sent to all award recipients.
For the five students who received Gold Key works, the opportunity for further recognition continues as their pieces will be sent to the national competition, where they will be judged by a panel of leading creative professionals.
Students from all 93 counties of Nebraska and age 13 and above are invited to submit original work in any of the Awards’ writing categories, such as flash fiction and poetry. Works are then judged by a panel of Hastings College faculty, staff and students.
Students receiving awards are listed alphabetically below.
- Olivia Achtemeier of Beatrice: Humor, Honorable Mention
- Norah Armstrong of Wayne: Poetry, Honorable Mention
- Ciara Basch of Plattsmouth: Poetry, Honorable Mention
- Anvitha Boosani of Omaha: Personal Essay & Memoir, Honorable Mention
- Tess Bowler of Omaha: Poetry, Silver Key
- Daisy Friedman of Omaha: Dramatic Script, Gold Key and American Voices Nominee; Personal Essay & Memoir, Honorable Mention; Writing Portfolio, Silver Key
- Megan Lambert of Boys Town: Poetry, Honorable Mention
- Andrew Lawler of Omaha: Short Story, Honorable Mention
- Zoey Lewis of Omaha: Flash Fiction, Gold Key and American Voices Nominee
- Rachel Lunt of Omaha: Poetry, Silver Key
- Reed McFadden of Purdum: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Silver Key
- Tyson (Harley) Pappas of Hastings: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Silver Key
- Joslyn Smith of Omaha: Novel Writing, Silver Key
- Daniel Stein of Omaha: Critical Essay, Silver Key
- Hannah Stromer of Boys Town: Poetry, Gold Key and American Voices Nominee
- Logan Sylliaasen of Wahoo: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Gold Key and American Voices Nominee
- Clarissa Tan of Lincoln: Personal Essay & Memoir, Gold Key, American Voices Nominee, and Honorable Mention
- Lydia Vlcek of Chapman: Short Story, Silver Key
- Jingming Yu of Lincoln: Writing Portfolio, Honorable Mention
With distinguished alumni such as Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol, who all received recognition in the Awards when they were teens, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program has been fostering the creativity and talent of millions of students since 1923.
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Hastings’ student-centered initiatives include providing books, an iPad and a two-week study away experience at no additional cost. A block-style semester schedule allows professors and students to focus on fewer classes at a time and promotes hands-on experiences. Discover more at hastings.edu.
