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Department of English

Creative Writing Prizes

The English Department's annual Creative Writing Prize contests are organized each spring by the Creative Writing Program, with financial support from the Academy of American Poets and community donors. The faculty coordinator for the prizes is Prof. Brynn Saito.

The 2022 winners are featured below. Read more about them on the Fresno State MFA blog.

 

hermelinda

Ernesto Trejo Poetry Prize

Graduate level

Winner: Hermelinda Hernandez Monjaras, for the poem “The Bleeding Love of a Water-Ghost”

Honorable mention: Delaney R. Whitebird Olmo, for the poem “Summon the Forbidden Ceremony”

Judge: E.C. Belli

Supported by: Friends of Ernesto Trejo, through an endowment with the Academy of American Poets

phoua

Larry Levis Poetry Prize

Undergraduate level

Winner: Phoua Lee, for the poem “Scavenger Hunt Where We See Our Ghosts and Run Toward Them”

Honorable mention: Michelle Ferrer Alvarez, for the poem “Midnight: Isabel spoke in her heart, and only her lips moved. Her voice was not heard at all.”

Judge: E.C. Belli

Supported by: Friends of Larry Levis, through an endowment with the Academy of American Poets

phoua

Soul Vang Prize for Poetry

Any level

Winner: Phoua Lee, for the poem “in which orpheus is a confused hmong daughter.”

Judge: May Yang

Supported by: Soul Vang and May Yang-Vang, through an endowment with the Fresno State Foundation

delaney

Mireyda Barraza Martinez Prize for Social Justice Writing

Graduate level

Winner: Delaney R. Whitebird Olmo, for the poem “A basket reaches inward”

Judge: Marisol Baca

Supported by: Friends and family of Mireyda Barraza Martinez

mialise

Fresno Fiction Prize

Graduate level

Winner: Mialise Carney, for the story “The Rage Room”

Judge: David Borofka

Supported by: Jackie and David Everwine

rosie

Fresno Creative Nonfiction Prize

Graduate level

Winner: Rosie Bates, for the essay “Fear”

Honorable mention: Hermelinda Hernandez Monjaras, for the essay “x”

Judge: Charles L. Radke

Supported by: Jackie and David Everwine

phoua

Mireyda Barraza Martinez Prize for Social Justice Writing

Undergraduate level

Winner: Phoua Lee, for the poem “Dark Landing Signals”

Judge: Marisol Baca

Supported by: Friends and family of Mireyda Barraza Martinez

emily

Fresno Fiction Prize

Undergraduate level

Winner: Emily Weissenborn, for the story “Pizza Party in the Pit of the Pathetic”

Judge: David Borofka

Supported by: Jackie and David Everwine

james

Fresno Creative Nonfiction Prize

Undergraduate level

Winner: James T. Morrison, for the essay “Five East”

Honorable mention: Sharon K. McClain, for the essay “Teresa”

Judge: Charles L. Radke

Supported by: Jackie and David Everwine

Become a Donor

Through the generosity of our supporters — community friends, alumni, faculty, staff, and the students themselves — the Creative Writing Prize contests continue to grow, thrive, and reach new heights.

If you would like to contribute to an existing writing award or establish one of your own, please contact Dr. Melanie Hernandez, department chair, at melanieh@csufresno.edu or 559.278.2553.