UA Wayne College accepting entries for writing awards competitions
The University of Akron Wayne College is accepting entries for its writing awards competitions until Friday, Dec. 11. The college holds three competitions: Student Writing Awards, Regional Writing Awards, and Writer of the Year. This year marks the 10th annual Student Writing Awards competition for area high school and Wayne College students. The competition typically draws between 400 and 500 entries from as many as 30 high schools. High school and college students may submit entries in the categories of poetry, short story, and personal essay.The Regional Writing Awards were added in 2007 for writers from the general public who are 18 and older. Regional writers may submit original works in three categories: poetry, short story, and nonfiction (essay, memoir, etc.). Submissions for the Regional Writing Awards must be the writer’s original work, not previously published, and be submitted with an entry form and $5 entry fee.
The Writer of the Year award recognizes excellence and achievement by a published writer who resides in Wayne, Holmes, or Medina counties. The achievement may be for a lifetime of work or for a recent success. The nominees may be writers of poetry, short stories, nonfiction, newspaper, magazines, or novels. A published writer may be nominated or may self-nominate for this honor, which includes a distinctive award and a $500 cash prize. Last year’s winner was Joanne Lehman from Apple Creek. Lehman was recognized for her body of work, which includes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
Deadline for submissions for all awards is 4 p.m., Dec. 11. There will be up to three cash prizes, $100 for first place, $75 for second place, and $50 for third in each category and at each level. High school students will compete at the high school level, Wayne students will compete against Wayne students, and regional writers will compete against regional writers. Winners will be notified in March 2010 and will be recognized at the Writers Workshop and Awards on April 10, 2010. Submission and nomination forms are available at area libraries, bookstores, Heartland Point, in the Wayne College Smucker Learning Center, or at www.wayne.uakron.edu/LearCen/writeroftheyear.