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.
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
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
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
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
Fresno Fiction Prize
Graduate level
Winner: Mialise Carney, for the story “The Rage Room”
Judge: David Borofka
Supported by: Jackie and David Everwine
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
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
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
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.