Academy of American Poets Prize
In Spring 2011, the Creative Writing Program announced the winner of the 2011 Academy of American Poets Prize. Poet Mary Kinzie judged the contest.
Winner: Kendra DeColo, then a second-year MFA student, for “The Strap-On Speaks”
Honorable mentions: Amanda Abel, then a first-year MFA student, for “Jasmine” & Donika Ross, graduate student, for “Little Box”
DeColo has since received her MFA and Abel is now a second-year MFA student in the English Department’s Creative Writing Program; Ross is a PhD student in the English Department who previously obtained an MFA at the University of Texas at Austin.
Sedberry Poetry Award
Chad Abushanab, then a first-year MFA student in poetry, was named the recipient of the 2011 Sedberry Poetry Award last spring. This award, which has been in existence only a short time, was given to MFA graduates Stephanie Pruitt in 2009 and Lisa Dordal in 2010.
Outstanding MFA Writing Studio Consultant
In Spring 2011, Jill Schepmann, then a first-year MFA student, won the first annual award for Outstanding MFA Writing Studio Consultant to acknowledge her excellent work with students in the Writing Studio.
