High School Writing Competition
What is the 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
Past Winners
ESSAY
- First place: Deven Isbell, Nettleton High School. Teacher: Casey Harris.
- Second place: Traceekiniya Rogers, Nettleton High School. Instructor: James Bittle.
- Third place: Kaylie Arell, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Instructor: Camryn Brown.
FICTION
- First place: Kaylee Tribble, Highland High School. Teacher: Suzanne Wallace.
- Second place: Paetin Jennings, Bay High School. Teacher: Kalina Smith.
- Third place: Deven Isbell, Nettleton High School. Teacher: Shawn Watson.
CREATIVE NON-FICTION
- First place: Destiny Shaw, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Meredith Baine.
- Second place: Sadie Marie Manley, Highland High School. Teacher: Suzanne Wallace.
- Third place (tied): Ella Grace Lewis, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Nicole LaCount.
- Third place (tied): Easton McDaniel, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Meredith Baine.
POETRY
- First place: Abby Collums, Bay High School. Teacher: Kalina Smith.
- Second place: Sophia De Lucena, The Academies at Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Katie Hamilton.
- Third place (tied): Ashley Allen, Cave City High School. Teacher: Amanda Kazzee.
- Third place (tied): Kinzie McDowell, Nettleton High School. Teacher: Gabrielle Fife.
ESSAY
- First place: Makayla Cross 11th grade, Greene County Tech High School. Teacher: Meredith Baine.
FICTION
- First place: Jo Mitchell, 12th grade, Paragould High School. Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham.
- Second place: Jaelunn “Mars” White, 12th grade, Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Katie Hamilton.
- Third place: Allie Carson, 12th grade, Jonesboro High School. Teacher: Nicole LaCount.
POETRY
- First place: Paetin Jennings, 11th grade, Bay High School. Teacher: Kalina Smith.
- Second place: Alahna Sampson, 12th grade, Highland High School. Teacher: Julie Sandy
- Third place: Chandle Davis, 12th grade, Paragould High School. Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham