BOONE, N.C. — The Appalachian State University Department of English has announced the recipients of the fall creative writing scholarships. Lydia Blanton, junior from New Bern, NC; Daniel Ham, senior from Hillsborough, NC; Sarah Teague, senior from Greensboro, NC; and Sophie Wells, senior from Greensboro, NC, will receive scholarships for their works of creative prose and poetry.
The creative writing contests are held annually in the fall semester and are judged by a prominent writer from outside the university. Students are encouraged to submit their work to four contests: The Marjorie South Idol Prize for Fiction and Creative Prose, Marjorie South Idol Prize for Poetry, Marian Coe Prize in Creative Writing and John Foster West Endowed Creative Writing Prize. While it is not a creative writing competition, the Rogers and Janice Whitener Creative Writing Scholarship is also awarded at the end of the fall semester.
The Marjorie South Idol Prize for Fiction and Creative Prose recognizes achievement in fiction and creative prose genres—including fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, playwriting and screenplay—written by students majoring in English in any concentration. Blanton, a junior majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, was awarded the Idol Prize for Fiction and Creative Prose for her piece "No Parking." "In 'No Parking,' we meet a brother and sister who are discussing the past and the future with an honesty that only occurs in the small, intimate spaces we form," explained Blanton, who also shared that she was excited to receive her first writing award.
Teague, a senior majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, received the Marjorie South Idol Prize for Poetry for her portfolio of poems. The prize recognizes achievement in poetry written by students majoring in English in any concentration. The Marian Coe Prize in Creative Writing, named for local author Marian Coe, was also awarded to Teague for her piece "All of Santa's Reindeer." Teague explained that her work is about "about leaning on the women of your community in times of inner turmoil and the complicated relationships that can grow out of that dependence."
The John Foster West Endowed Creative Writing Prize was awarded to Wells, a senior majoring in secondary English education, for her portfolio of poems. "My poems were mostly about struggling with mental health things I’ve dealt with," Wells said. The prize is named for and sponsored by John Foster West, a writer and former App State professor. The contest is open to currently enrolled students of all majors and years.
The Rogers and Janice Whitener Creative Writing Scholarship is named for Rogers and Janice Whitener, notable supporters of students and of the arts during their years at App State. The scholarship is awarded in the fall for the spring semester to a student enrolled in the creative writing concentration. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need and exhibit high grades and good citizenship in creative writing concentration courses. The 2022-23 Whitener Scholarship was awarded to Ham.
Congratulations to the scholarship recipients! If you are interested in a creative prose or poetry scholarship but missed the fall deadline, the Department of English will accept submissions to the Truman Capote Literary Trust Scholarship for Creative Writing contest from April 6-13, 2023 through the Appalachian Scholarship Application Portal (ASAP) at asap.appstate.edu. The Capote scholarship is open to rising or continuing juniors or seniors in English who have completed a sequence of creative writing courses. For the first time, two scholarships - one for creative prose and one for poetry - will be awarded in 2023. For more information about the Department of English's scholarships, visit english.appstate.edu/students/scholarships.
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About the Department of English
The Department of English at Appalachian State University is committed to outstanding work in the classroom, the support and mentorship of students, and a dynamic engagement with culture, history, language, theory and literature. The department offers master’s degrees in English and rhetoric and composition, as well as undergraduate degrees in literary studies, film studies, creative writing, professional writing and English education. Learn more at https://english.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Andersen
January 27, 2023
BOONE, N.C.
Lydia Blanton, junior from New Bern, NC; Sophie Wells, senior from Greensboro, NC; and Sarah Teague, senior from Greensboro, NC will receive scholarships for their works of creative prose and poetry. Photos submitted.
Lydia Blanton, junior from New Bern, NC; Sophie Wells, senior from Greensboro, NC; and Sarah Teague, senior from Greensboro, NC will receive scholarships for their works of creative prose and poetry. Photos submitted.