High School Writing Competition

Each year, the brightest and most creative high school student writers from across the state of Arkansas are nominated by their English teachers to submit works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry to the A-State Department of English, Philosophy, and World Languages' High School Writing Competition. Committee members then select the first, second, and third place winners in each category. Certificates are awarded to each winning piece, and each of them is published below.

Current Committee Members: Rob Lamm (Chair), Khem Aryal, and Kerri L. Bennett

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2025 Winners

ESSAY

• First place: Deven Isbell, Nettleton High School. Teacher: Casey Harris.
  • TITLE: "Confronting Morality: Dreams and Survival in The Road"
• Second place: Traceekiniya Rogers, Nettleton High School. Instructor:James Bittle
  • TITLE: "The Importance of Perseverance"
• Third place: Kaylie Arell, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Instructor: Camryn Brown
  • TITLE: "Untitled"

FICTION

• First place: Kaylee Tribble, Highland High School. Teacher: Suzanne Wallace.
  • TITLE: "A Hero's Lesson"
• Second place: Paetin Jennings, Bay High School. Teacher: Kalina Smith.
  • TITLE: "A Place in Time"
• Third place: Deven Isbell, Nettleton High School.  Teacher: Shawn Watson.
  • TITLE: "The Uncoiling"

CREATIVE NON-FICTION

• First place: Destiny Shaw, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Meredith Baine.
  • TITLE: "A Gut Punch in History"
• Second place: Sadie Marie Manley, Highland High School. Teacher: Suzanne Wallace.
  
  • TITLE: "Untitled"
• Third place (tied): Ella Grace Lewis, The Academies at Jonesboro High School.  Teacher: Nicole LaCount.
  • TITLE: "Taking a Leap of Faith"
• Third place (tied): Easton McDaniel, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Meredith Baine.
  • TITLE: "Never Forget"

POETRY

• First place: Abby Collums, Bay High School. Teacher: Kalina Smith.
  • TITLE: "Moonlight Confessions"
• Second place: Sophia De Lucena, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Katie Hamilton.
  • TITLE: "Growing Up"
• Third place (tied): Ashley Allen, Cave City High School. Teacher: Amanda Kazzee
  • TITLE: "Dark Cedar Eyes"
• Third place (tied): Kinzie McDowell, Nettleton High School. Teacher: Gabrielle Fife
  • TITLE: "Untitled"

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2024 Winners

ESSAY

• First place: Makayla Cross 11^th grade, Greene County Tech High School. Teacher: Meredith Baine.
  • TITLE: “Following the Leader”

FICTION

• First place: Jo Mitchell, 12^th grade, Paragould High School. Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham.
  • TITLE: “mirror boy”
• Second place: Jaelunn “Mars” White, 12^th grade, Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Katie Hamilton.
  • TITLE: untitled
• Third place: Allie Carson, 12^th grade, Jonesboro High School.  Teacher: Nicole LaCount.
  • TITLE: untitled

POETRY

• First place: Paetin Jennings, 11^th grade, Bay High School. Teacher: Kalina Smith.
  • TITLE: “Metamorphosis”
• Second place: Alahna Sampson, 12^th grade, Highland High School. Teacher: Julie Sandy
  • TITLE: untitled
• Third place: Chandle Davis, 12^th grade, Paragould High School. Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham
  • TITLE: “Garden Rose”