The 2025 judges were jo reyes-boitel (poetry), Uche Okonkwo (fiction), and AJ Romriell (creative nonfiction).
“Pantoum Where We Must Commit to Dancing with Death” Jacob R. Benavides Oklahoma State University Reed Magazine
“Exile” Ben Cooper Salisbury University Colorado Review
“Abecedarian of things to do while you’re waiting to feel” Elizabeth Garcia Georgia State University Florida Review
“Bullseye” Camilo Loaiza Bonilla University of South Florida Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Unbury my childhood” Heather Neidlinger Western Kentucky University Quarterly West
“I’m writing you an elegy at the edge of the world” Sophia Saco University of Central Florida Tampa Review
“Thoughts & Prayers” Merrick Sloane University of Tennessee Puerto del Sol
“莫生 Only Absence, No Time” Cela Xie North Carolina State University Mid-American Review
“Greening” Tyler Balkcom, creative nonfiction University of South Florida Tampa Review
“Down and Out in Disneyland” Maya Bernstein-Schalet, creative nonfiction University of Arizona Colorado Review
“Blue Heaven” Carter Groves, fiction University of Missouri–Kansas City Quarterly West
“Used Books” Serena Kerkstra, fiction Georgia College & State University Puerto del Sol
“My Gender in the Epipelagic Zone” Ari Koontz, creative nonfiction Northern Michigan University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Spread” Katie Rhodes, creative nonfiction University of Southern Mississippi Florida Review
“To Shoulder the Weight” Josiah Roberts, creative nonfiction Point Loma Nazarene University Mid-American Review
“Rhapsodic” Kelly Ward, fiction West Virginia University Reed Magazine
The 2024 judges were Benin Lemus (poetry), Marcela Fuentes (fiction), and Celeste Chan (creative nonfiction).
“Work Experience” Claire Benevento University of Missouri-Kansas City Tampa Review
“Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace” Em Bober University of Montana Mid-American Review
Threnody Humming During Dinnertime” Jordan E. Franklin Binghamton University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“ode to kisses” Hailey Gross San Diego State University Iron Horse Literary Review
“Gallery Girl” Jules Miller University of North Carolina Wilmington Colorado Review
“pulling” Nyds Rivera Rowan University Colorado Review
“The Telugu Word for Home Sounds like Illness” Tejaswini Sudhakar Indiana University Reed Magazine
“Broken Sonnet After a Girl Tells Me to Write More Poems about Tomatoes” Caitie Young Kent State University Puerto del Sol
“Speculation” Michael Chapin, creative nonfiction Davidson College Tampa Review
“My Identity Is Disputed Territory” Maggie Dressler, creative nonfiction Penn State University Park Reed Magazine
“Blair” Simon Graham, fiction University of Washington–Seattle Puerto del Sol
“Camden County Folk Medicine” Nina King Sannes, creative nonfiction University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign Colorado Review
“El Luchador” Natalia Martinez, fiction Florida International University Mid-American Review
“Mother to Mother” Rashmitha Muniandi, fiction University of Massachusetts Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Jonquil” Hanna Reynditskiy, fiction College of Charleston Quarterly West
“Buffy Knew Something about the Dark” Beth Ward, creative nonfiction University of Georgia Iron Horse Literary Review
The 2023 judges were Jennifer Moore (poetry), Gwen Kirby (fiction), and Sonya Huber (creative nonfiction).
“Equinox” Brian Czyzyk University of North Texas Tampa Review
“Visiting a Friend on a Snowy Night” Chengru He University of Utah Colorado Review
“Countdown” Carrie Johnson University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Quarterly West
“Sadie” Shannon Moran University of Missouri-Kansas City Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Etymology of Meal” Veronica Silva University of Central Florida Creative Writing MFA Iron Horse Literary Review
“14 Minute Sonnet” Grace Smith West Virginia University MFA in Creative Writing Puerto del Sol
“Ghost Eulogy” Sara Verstynen Northwestern University Reed Magazine
“Three Days After My Mom Starts Hospice, My Son Can’t Sleep” Angela Voras-Hills University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Mid-American Review
Hair” Ciara Alfaro, creative nonfiction University of Minnesota Mid-American Review
“A Vanishing (30 Accounts of the Disappearance of Dorothy Arnold, Each Equally True)” Blake Chernin, fiction Purdue University Iron Horse Literary Review
“The Archer” Jacob M. Hall, creative nonfiction Texas Tech University Colorado Review
“Lost Wingman” Laura Joyce-Hubbard, creative nonfiction Northwestern University Reed Magazine
“Wisdom Teeth” Liina Koivula, fiction Eastern Washington University Puerto del Sol
“Ṣọkọyọ̀kọ̀tọ̀” Kanyinsola Olorunnisola, creative nonfiction University of Alabama Tampa Review
“Deborah Forever” Kasey Peters, fiction University of Nebraska-Lincoln Hayden’s Ferry Review
“For Someone” Madeline Simms, fiction University of Alabama Quarterly West
The 2022 judges were Susan Moeller (poetry), Cliff Garstrang (fiction), and Rebecca Moon Ruark (creative nonfiction).
“I Dream of Dressing Your Altar with Slaughtered Meat” KJ Janeschek University of Alaska, Fairbanks Mid-American Review
“How to Make Tamales” Andrew Acuna Eastern Washington University Tampa Review
“Hunter's Moon” Sam Burt Bowling Green State University Colorado Review
“notes on assimilation III” N.L. Shompole Pacific University MFA in Writing Tampa Review
“Triptych: House” Kanika Ahuja Purdue University MFA Puerto del Sol
“Hail Mary at the Hour of Our Deaths” Maggie Wolff University of Central Florida MFA Program Reed Magazine
“Volunteering at an Alzheimer’s Unit” John Kneisley Colorado State University Quarterly West
“Homestead” Zach Simon University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Convent of the Sisters of Divine and Perpetual Sorrow” Luke Smith University of Montana Iron Horse Literary Review
“Will You Please Bring It Back To Me” Laura Dzubay, fiction Indiana University Mid-American Review
“King of the Hill, Top of the Heap” Serenity Marshall, fiction Old Dominion University Quarterly West
“Starfish: A Paean to Those Who Cannot Breathe” Elizabeth Bolton, creative nonfiction University of Alaska, Fairbanks Puerto del Sol
"If You Weren’t There" Sandy Robertson, creative nonfiction San Diego State University Colorado Review
“Yes/No: Conversations with My Son” Kara Melissa Sharp, creative nonfiction Antioch University MFA in Creative Writing Tampa Review
“Etymology of King County Family Court” Summer Wrobel, creative nonfiction University of North Carolina Wilmington MFA Iron Horse Literary Review
“El Velorio: An Elegy” Jerilynn Aquino, creative nonfiction Oklahoma State University Reed Magazine
The 2021 judges were Karen Craigo (poetry), Mary Grimm (fiction), and Athena Dixon (creative nonfiction).
“Autotomy” J.P. Grasser University of Utah Colorado Review
“Dear Make-Pretender” Andy Sia University of Mississippi Puerto del Sol
“Pandemic Haircuts” Cassandra Caverhill Bowling Green State University Reed Magazine
“What’s Inside” Nathaniel Ricketts Penn State BAMA in Creative Writing Tampa Review
“Blueshift” Jon Loft University of North Carolina Wilmington Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Which One” Skye Jackson University of New Orleans Reed Magazine
“Would I Rather Soften” Ae Hee Lee University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Mid-American Review
“I Want to Write a Poem About My Hometown” Sydney Vogl University of San Francisco Iron Horse Literary Review
“The Sky is a Liar Being Blue” Ashlee Beals, creative nonfiction University of New Orleans Reed Magazine
“The Loneliest One” Nick Castro, creative nonfiction University of San Francisco Puerto del Sol
“The Blood Kettle” Danielle Harms, fiction University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Mid-American Review
“Gift” Jonathan Winston Jones, creative nonfiction Northwestern University Quarterly West
“I Never See Her Anymore” Emily Standlee, creative nonfiction University of Missouri Kansas City Tampa Review
“Pumpjack” Steven Vineis, fiction University of North Carolina Wilmington Hayden’s Ferry Review
“The Most Ordinary Thing” Mia Yanosy, fiction University of Connecticut Iron Horse Literary Review
The 2020 judges were Terry Ann Thaxton (poetry), Dave Housley (fiction), and Tom Bligh (creative nonfiction).
“Prequel to Truth” Jean Buehler St. Olaf College Hayden’s Ferry Review
“there’s a parcel in your pocket it carries your abduction” Kathryne David Gargano University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Tahoma Review
“Pablo’s Contrapuntal” Lindsay Lake University of North Carolina Wilmington Tampa Review
“Analogies to various facets of evolution (people of influence)” Sydney Minnehan St. Lawrence University Puerto del Sol
“Golden Shovel in a New York Ballroom” Alexa Quezada Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis Iron Horse Literary Review
“i am unfit to raise daughters” Jessica Ram University of North Carolina Wilmington Mid-American Review
“No Rhododendron” Samyak Shertok University of Utah Creative Writing Program Colorado Review
“On Gurning” Rebecca Brill, creative nonfiction University of Minnesota Colorado Review
“The Alien Dialogues” Mark DiFruscio, fiction Oklahoma State University Puerto del Sol
“Assemblies” Mary Henn, creative nonfiction University of Missouri Kansas City Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Trowel, Brush, Bones” Audrey Hollis, fiction Purdue University Iron Horse Literary Review
“Pardo/Ghost Hand” Matthew Morris, creative nonfiction University of Arizona Mid-American Review
“Someone Tell a Story, Something to Pass the Time” Lacey Rowland, fiction University of Missouri Tahoma Review
“Elizabeth Kaplan’s Best Day Ever” Christopher Vanjonack, fiction University of Illinois Quarterly West
“Love In the Time of Climate Change” Caroline Woodwell, creative nonfiction Eastern Washington University Tampa Review
The 2019 judges were Stephanie L. Harper (poetry), Robert James Russell (fiction), and Lara Lillibridge (creative nonfiction)
"How Could This Be a Time for Music?" Nishat Ahmed Old Dominion University Tampa Review
“kintsugi" Grace Anderson Normandale AFA Puerto del Sol
“Self-Portrait as Minotaur” Jacqueline Balderrama Utah University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Heron” McKayla Conahan Virginia Commonwealth University Mid-American Review
“This Motion, These Whispers” Emma DePanise Salisbury University Quarterly West
“Dear Anhedonia” Carrie McGath University of Illinois, Chicago Tahoma Literary Review
“Properties of Wonder” Benjamin Pearce Miller University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Colorado Review
“The Waiting House” Caitlin Wilson Virginia Commonwealth University Iron Horse Literary Review
“Mr. Fantastic Measures Conifers” Brian Czyzyk, creative nonfiction Purdue University Colorado Review
“The Teacher Doesn't Jump in Front of the Bullet” Melanie Farmer, creative nonfiction University of Central Florida MFA Tampa Review
“The Root of My Family” Mirri Glasson-Darling, fiction Virginia Tech Mid-American Review
“Requirements for the Master of Arts in English” Sarah Helen, creative nonfiction University of Mississippi Quarterly West
“Momma Had A River Voice” Christy Nicole Helms, fiction Georgia College Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Galilee, if you Squint” Katerina Ivanov, fiction University of Arizona Iron Horse Literary Review
“Visitation” Jen Samnons, creative nonfiction Miami University Tahoma Literary Review
“Pretty” Saheeda Jabriel Wilson, creative nonfiction Georgia College Puerto del Sol
The 2018 judges were Mary Biddinger (poetry), David James Poissant (fiction), and Michele Filgate (creative nonfiction)
"Blue Collar Brown" Anuradha Bhowmik Virginia Tech Quarterly West
"The Cicadas" Brian Clifton University of North Texas Colorado Review
"Emarginate” Liza Flum University of Utah Tampa Review
“The only reason I unpacked was the insomnia” Anne Livingston Grand Valley State University Iron Horse Literary Review
“Landscape with Sharp Rocks” Mary Maroste Western Michigan University Mid-American Review
"My Daughter Forgets to Lock the Door" Lorie Parker Matejowsky University of Central Florida Tahoma Literary Review
"Beyond Understanding" Heather Myers West Virginia University Puerto del Sol
"What Came Looking for Me" Kevin Reese Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop Hayden’s Ferry Review
On Worry” Erica Berry, creative nonfiction University of Minnesota Colorado Review
"Phlogiston" Sheldon Costa, fiction Ohio State University Quarterly West
"Glossary for a Miscarriage” Emily Dyer Barker, fiction University of Utah Hayden’s Ferry Review
“9:47” Emily Harnden, creative nonfiction Colorado State University Puerto del Sol
"Three Boys from Felton High School Go to War” Allyson Hoffman, fiction University of South Florida Mid-American Review
"The Horizon Has a Way of Disappearing” Jennifer Key, creative nonfiction University of Mississippi Tampa Review
"Separation Agreement” Jason Nafziger, fiction University of Illinois Tahoma Literary Review
"The First Time” Brenda Taulbee, creative nonfiction San Diego State University Iron Horse Literary Review
The 2017 judges were Leona Sevick (poetry), Brendan Kiely (fiction), and Benjamin Busch (creative nonfiction).
“Whale Soup” Katie Amundsen Wichita State University Mid-American Review
“Hunger” Marcus Jamison Old Dominion University Quarterly West
“Kid” Alizabeth Leake Brigham Young University Iron Horse Literary Review
“When I was Little I Punched My Brother and Called It a Love Tap” Paige Leland Grand Valley State University Tahoma Literary Review
“The End Road Work Sign Reminded Me that Most Things Cease to Exist” Maria McKee Grand Valley State University Puerto del Sol
“The Fossil” Erika Mueller University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Colorado Review
“Venice, Baja California” Gabriel Rubi San Diego State University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Lover the Lord Has Left Us” C.T. Salazar Mississippi University for Women Tampa Review
“Daughter Tongue” Kathleen Blackburn, creative nonfiction University of Illinois at Chicago Colorado Review
“Night Moves” Renée Branum, fiction University of Montana Tampa Review
“How to Get to Heaven from Colorado” Dana Chellman, creative nonfiction Colorado State University Iron Horse Literary Review
“Breakers” Jessica Fokken, fiction Oklahoma State University Quarterly West
“South of Eight” Derrick Jefferson, fiction American University Tahoma Literary Review
“Honeysuckle Prince” Quintessa Knight, fiction Georgia Southern University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“My Cartographies” Rachel Toliver, creative nonfiction Ohio State University Mid-American Review
“Re-entry” Jennifer Watkins, creative nonfiction Georgia College Tampa Review
The 2016 judges were Tyehimba Jess (poetry), Mary Grimm (fiction), and Jessica Handler (creative nonfiction)
“Elegy for Jonah Sleepless in the Whale” Brennan Bestwick Kansas State University, Colorado Review
“Make Blood” Cedar Brant Colorado State University Quarterly West
“Throw Away the Cowboy Shirts” Alan Chazaro University of San Francisco Iron Horse Review
“Poem for the God of Cities Left Burning” Audrey Gradzewicz Purdue University Mid-American Review
“Kubler-Ross Hospice Photography” Michael Hurley University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Puerto del Sol
“What Are You?” Amanda Huynh Old Dominion University Tahoma Literary Review
“Field Trip to the Dead President’s House” Emma Hyche Auburn University Tampa Review
“House Fire” Kari Stewart Sterling College Hayden’s Ferry Review
“From the Watchtower” Nathaniel Barron, fiction Colorado State University, Fort Collins Iron Horse Review
“What Work Is” Allison Campbell, creative nonfiction University of Southern Mississippi Center for Writers Tampa Review
“A Short Walk Up Graves Hill” Anna Caritj, fiction Hollins University Mid-American Review
“Dispatch from the Carnival: And the Low Sky Opens” Tessa Fontaine, creative nonfiction University of Utah Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Make It Yours” Joseph Holt, fiction University of Southern Mississippi Center for Writers Tahoma Literary Review
“Cobra” Sabrina Napolitano, fiction University of Central Florida, Orlando Quarterly West
“Borrowed Gardens” Anne Royan, creative nonfiction Savannah College of Art and Design Puerto del Sol
“Exposure” Emily Strasser, creative nonfiction University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Colorado Review
The 2015 judges were Philip Metres (poetry), Erin McGraw (fiction), and Sue William Silverman (creative nonfiction).
“When Asked How Many, I Didn’t Know” Austin Anderson Oregon State University—Cascades Iron Horse Review
“She Shipped Her Cock Priority” Joseph Gordon University of San Francisco Puerto Del Sol
“To Delete, Press Seven” Joshua Flaccavento SUNY Buffalo Artful Dodge
“Blackout” Abigail Kerstetter Colorado State University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Ancestor” Rajiv Mohabir The University of Hawai’I at Manoa Quarterly West
“City Resident” Simon Neely St. Mary’s College of California Colorado Review
“Thank You When I’m an Axe” Emily Skaja Purdue University Mid-American Review
“Sinus Amorous” Benjamin Voigt University of Alabama Tampa Review
“Inside the Chönyid Bardo” Jan Becker, creative nonfiction Florida International University Colorado Review
“No One Can Tell You What to Keep” James Clark, fiction Stephen F. Austin State University Iron Horse Review
“How to Write A War Poem” Micah Fields, creative nonfiction University of Montana Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Nausicaa” Emily Geminder, creative nonfiction University of Missouri-Kansas City Tampa Review
“A Matter of National Security” Jason Harrington, creative nonfiction University of Mississippi Puerto Del Sol
“A Gathering of Then and Now” Melissa Matthewson, creative nonfiction Vermont College of Fine Arts Mid-American Review
“The Seven Deaths of the Family Contreras” Molly Olguin, fiction The Ohio State University Quarterly West
“The Hyphenates of Jackson County” Theodore Wheeler, fiction Creighton University Artful Dodge
The 2014 judges were Jamahl Dunkle (poetry), Daniel Chacón (fiction), and Lee Martin (creative nonfiction).
“Site Fidelity” Anne Barngrover University of Missouri Mid-American Review
“Everything in My Life I’ve Invited” Ruth Baumann University of Memphis Puerto Del Sol
“Descent” Lucien Darjeun Meadows Southern Illinois University Carbondale Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Rations” Natalie Mesnard University Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Tampa Review
“The Hook in the Throat Where Breath is Hung” David Antonio Moody Florida State University Artful Dodge
“Fidelity” Jaya Stenquist University of Wisconsin-Madison Iron Horse Literary Review
“Milk Way Nine Patch” Rachel Rinehart McNeese State University Quarterly West
“Measuring an Arc by Every Other Degree” James White Florida Atlantic University Colorado Review
“Charade” Kendra Atleework, creative nonfiction University of Minnesota Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Mezuzah” Tim Buchanan, fiction East Carolina University Puerto Del Sol
“The Last Best Place” Christopher Connor, fiction St. Mary’s College of California Mid-American Review
“Open at the Throat” Fae Dremock, fiction University of Southern Mississippi Artful Dodge
“The Oriel Window” Shanley Jacobs, creative nonfiction University of San Franciso Tampa Review
“Bruno in the Afternoon” Collette O’Connor, creative nonfiction San Jose State University Iron Horse Literary Review
“Tenebrae” Jan Shoemaker, creative nonfiction Ashland University Colorado Review
“The Demon at Montgomery Hill” Laura Smith, fiction Florida State University Quarterly West
The 2013 judges were Ben Grossberg (poetry), Kelcey Parker (fiction), and Rigoberto Gonzalez (creative nonfiction).
“Harvest” Laura Bylenok University of Utah Artful Dodge
“A Guide to Mutton Busting” Ryan Cheng University of South Florida Quarterly West
“In the Breath of Ten Thousand Metals” Sarah Crossland University of Wisconsin, Madison Tampa Review
“The Collective Nouns of Inanimate Objects” Zackary Medlin University of Alaska-Fairbanks Mid-American Review
“I Think I’m Almost Ready to See the Ocean” Michael Mlekoday Indiana University Iron Horse Literary Review
“Leaving Labor and Delivery” Erin Rodoni San Diego State University Colorado Review
“Saint Petersburg” Inga Lea Schmidt Goucher College Puerto Del Sol
“Cardinal Heaven” Danielle Weeks University of Evansville Hayden’s Ferry Review
“The Curse of the Al-Turks” Ghassan Abou-Zeineddine, fiction University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Iron Horse Literary Review
“Megan’s Home” A.B. Francis, fiction University of San Francisco Mid-American Review
“Lucky” Melissa Goodrich, fiction University of Arizona Artful Dodge
“Homecoming” Silas Hansen, creative nonfiction The Ohio State University Puerto Del Sol
“Hugo” Karen Maner, creative nonfiction Eastern Washington University Colorado Review
“Discovering Terra Incognita” John Messick, creative nonfiction University of Alaska – Fairbanks Tampa Review
“Love, From Mexico” Zoe Mungin, fiction University of Massachusetts Quarterly West
“Krakow” Kelsey Ronan, fiction Purdue University Hayden’s Ferry Review
The 2012 judges were Susan Grimm (poetry), Brock Clarke (fiction), and Kyoko Mori (creative nonfiction).
“Mise en Place” Lindsay Daigle University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Quarterly West
“Anagram for a Body Wanting to Occupy Two Places at Once” Meg Day University aof Utah Artful Dodge
“Two Mycologists” Michael Gray California State University, Fresno Puerto Del Sol
“Scutellaria” James Henry Knippen Texas State—San Marcos Colorado Review
“National Acoustic Symphonic Academy” Matthew London West Virginia University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“For Ernesta Peebles, the Organist Who Fell in the Septic Tank” Alexa Norris The College of Wooster Artful Dodge
“Autopsy of Me” Mary Stone Dockery University of Kansas Mid-American Review
“Autonomy, Landscape, Terrible Love” Corey Van Landingham Purdue University Tampa Review
“Yak Farm” Joe Aguilar, fiction University of Missouri-Columbia Hayden’s Ferry Review
“A Man in Review” Christopher Allsop, fiction Antioch University, Los Angeles Puerto Del Sol
“Four by Eight” Chris Drew, creative nonfiction University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Quarterly West
“Molding” Diane Embry, creative nonfiction Hamline University Mid-American Review
“The Particulars of My Deliverance” Marvin Guymon, fiction University of Colorado Denver Puerto Del Sol
“Tough Little Wife” Edward Porter, fiction University of Houston Colorado Review
“Tri-Level” Gina P. Vozenilek, creative nonfiction Northwestern University Tampa Review
“Hunting the Rut” Katherine Zlabek, fiction University of Cincinnati Artful Dodge
The 2011 judges were Cathy Essinger (poetry), Darrin Doyle (fiction), and Michael Martone (creative nonfiction).
“Debriefing” Kyle Adamson Normandale Community College Artful Dodge
“My Brother’s Coat January 1943” Pamela R. Anderson NEOMFA – Kent State University Controlled Burn
“What is the Sacred Word on the Street” Dot Dannenberg Pacific University Colorado Review
“Natural Selection” Richie Hofmann Emory University Tampa Review
“The Wrestling of Shadows” Karin Lightstone University of Florida Puerto Del Sol
“God Reconsiders Egypt” Dustin M. Macormic Missouri State University Mid-American Review
“Daughter Psalms” Katie Schmid University of Wyoming Quarterly West
“The Classroom” Cooper Smith NEOMFA Puerto Del Sol
“Quantum Kerfuffle” Nick Sturm NEOMFA Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Three Goats” Phillippe Diederich, fiction University of South Florida Quarterly West
“I Want to Rove You” Lauren Foss Goodman, fiction University of Massachusetts Amherst Hayden’s Ferry Review
“When the Green Went Away” Joe Hiland, fiction Indiana University Colorado Review
“Self: A Musical” Joel Lee, creative nonfiction NEOMFA Artful Dodge
“Dust” Topper Lilien, fiction Antioch University Los Angeles Controlled Burn
“We Don’t Serve Ums” Susan Muensterman, creative nonfiction University of Mississippi Tampa Review
“D-League” Adam Price, fiction University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Mid-American Review
The 2010 judges were Lynn Powell (poetry), Crystal Wilkinson (fiction), and Sonya Huber (creative nonfiction).
“Wet Field” Jenna Bazzell Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Hayden’s Ferry Review
“No One Will Find Us” Louisa Diodato University of Wisconsin, Madison Puerto Del Sol
“Bellaghy” Michelle Hicks UNC-Chapel Hill Colorado Review
“The Good Girl” Hilary S. Jacqmin University of Florida C O N T R O L L E D B U R N
“Collegiate Bible Study” Stephen Krewson University of Pennsylvania Mid-American Review
“Maidens in the Queen’s Court of Immortality” Corinna McClanahan Schroeder University of Mississippi Tampa Review
“The Edge of Reason” Kathryn Nuernberger Ohio University Artful Dodge
“Bone Hunting” Katharine Ogle University of Washington Quarterly West
“First-Order Differential Equations” Sara Joy Culver, fiction University of Minnesota Puerto Del Sol
“Normandy Park” Jaquira Díaz, fiction University of South Florida Quarterly West
“When the Rains Came” Melissa Lambert, fiction Lesley University Colorado Review
“Exorcism” Dana Norris, creative nonfiction Northwestern University Tampa Review
“Ice Storm” Phillip Ortmann, fiction Pennsylvania State University C O N T R O L L E D B U R N
“Why Burning Man Won’t Fix Your Shattered Self-Esteem” Nicole Sheets, creative nonfiction University of Utah Mid-American Review
“Residual Value” Sheila Stuewe, creative nonfiction Vermont College of Fine Arts Artful Dodge
“With Consideration and Care” Michael Wang, fiction Purdue University Hayden’s Ferry Review
The 2009 judges were Oliver de la Paz (poetry), Michael Griffith (fiction), and Barbara Hurd (creative nonfiction).
“Prometheus in Pittsburgh” Eric Bliman University of Cincinnati Quarterly West
“So/Yes/Limited” Weston Cutter Virginia Tech Artful Dodge
“Archipelago” Andrew De Haan Grand Valley State University Tampa Review
“Intellectual Property” Rebecca Morgan Frank University of Cincinnati Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Myrlie’s Lament” Barry George Spalding University C O N T R O L L E D B U R N
“Thrush” Kim O’Connor University of Maryland, College Park Colorado Review
“Shaded Noon” Kayla Skarbakka Augsburg College Mid-American Review
“Philadelphia, 1976” Ryan Teitman Indiana University Puerto Del Sol
“Plastination” Brian Beglin, fiction Purdue University Artful Dodge
“You can Sleep When You’re Dead” Kate Bradley, fiction Virginia Commonwealth University C O N T R O L L E D B U R N
“Nineteen Destinies for Sonoma County” Alex Chambers, creative nonfiction The University of Alabama Puerto del Sol
“The Sandpiper” Hannah Epstein, fiction Oberlin College Quarterly West
“The Missing Pictures” Sarah Fang, creative nonfiction University of Maryland, College Park Colorado Review
“Evidence of Things Not Seen” David Lumpkin, creative nonfiction The Ohio State University Mid-American Review
“Bad Poetry” Kendall Sand, fiction University of Idaho Hayden’s Ferry Review
“A Life Under Water” Julie Marie Wade, creative nonfiction University of Louisville Tampa Review
The 2008 judges were Julia Levine (poetry), Kwame Dawes (fiction), and Brenda Miller (creative nonfiction).
“Elegy with Windings, Ancient and Modern” Brian Dunn Purdue University Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Affinity” Mindy Gutowski Purdue University Artful Dodge
“Observe the Animals” Cassandra Howard Southern Illinois University Quarterly West
“Avocado” Sara Johnson University of Oregon Tampa Review
“Rothko’s Room (at the Tate Modern)” Beth Marzoni Western Michigan University C O N T R O L L E D B U R N
“Duffy’s Inferno” Martha Miller Converse College Colorado Review
“The goats have taken over the barracks” Andrew Najberg Spalding University Artful Dodge
“Unrecorded” Aaron Rudolph Texas Tech University Mid-American Review
“The Strong Force” Erin Bond University of North Carolina – Wilmington Quarterly West
“Pond Twenty-Seven” Scott Ditzler, fiction University of Missouri - Kansas City Puerto del Sol
“Toadman” Peter Grimes, fiction University of Cincinnati Hayden’s Ferry Review
“Monsters of South Dakota” Jennifer Linscott, creative nonfiction University of Mississippi Mid-American Review
“Play Dead” Dave Madden, creative nonfiction University of Nebraska – Lincoln Tampa Review
“Den Mother” Kirstin Valdez Quade, fiction University of Oregon Colorado Review
The 2007 judges were G. C. Waldrep (poetry), Audrey Petty (fiction), and Fleda Brown (creative nonfiction).
“About Crows” Craig Blais Wichita State University Haydens Ferry Review
“Filter” Amanda Cobb West Virginia University C O N T R O L L E D B U R N
“Lipping Chocolate Cigarettes, the Mathematician Shakes a Fist” Matthew Corey University of Illinois at Chicago Puerto del Sol
“Ramadan Aubade” Tarfia Faizullah Virginia Commonwealth University Mid-American Review
“The Wheels in Your Perfect Bones” Miles Fuller Westminster College Quarterly West
“Propaganda Suite” MC Hyland The University of Alabama Colorado Review
“Marshland” Alex Quinlan Washington University Tampa Review
“Forgiveness” Mathias Svalina University of Nebraska Artful Dodge
“On Trembling” Stephen David Grover, creative nonfiction Brigham Young University Artful Dodge
“The Subject of their Absence” Beth Kaufka, fiction Bowling Green State University Colorado Review
“People Are” Nancy Mays, fiction University of Missouri-Kansas City Mid-American Review
“Oligarchies I Have Known” Thomas Peele, creative nonfiction University of San Francisco C O N T R O L L E D B U R N
“Our Most Segregated Hour” Erin E. Tocknell, creative nonfiction West Virginia University Tampa Review
“Falling Man” Shawn Vestal, fiction Eastern Washington University Quarterly West
“Loss Prevention” Marion Wyce, fiction Rutgers-Camden University Puerto del Sol