USU Creative Writing Contest Results

2025 USU Creative Writing and Art Contest Winners

ART

First: Kaisha Mills, “Self Portrait”

Second: Sterling Brinkerhoff, “Silent Sentinel”

Third: Myleigh Peterson, “(Lucky Number) 5”

Honorable Mention: Kaisha Mills, “Away; Thunder”

Honorable Mention: Lily Webb, “Watchman”

Honorable Mention: Brianna Pickering, “Return to Earth; The Great Divide”

Honorable Mention: Abigail Hong, “Bone Appetit”

Honorable Mention: Sarah Monsen, “Chocolate Cake”

Honorable Mention: Myleigh Peterson, “(Lucky Number) 2”

Honorable Mention: Hannah Smith, “Crest; Fairytale”

Honorable Mention: Emmaline Jones, “Haven”

Honorable Mention: Crius Palus, “Before It Broke the Rules”

Honorable Mention: Addie Hemsley, “Almost”

FICTION

First: Eva Nelson, “Breathe”

Second: Sarah Ellis, “Whatever Did Happen to Cornelius”

Third: Hannah Smith, “Let’s Play Mermaids”

NONFICTION

First: Chloe Scheve, “Moonchild”

Second: Yash Rivera, “Cyclical”

Third: Luka Rompato, “Feast”

POETRY

First: Brook Haight, “your nature; fill me; cycles”

Second: Noelani Hadfield, “Too Much Information; Grandmother’s Cotton Fields; Sea-Salt Atonement”

Third: Rose Ivins, “Sign Of; 7:30 a.m. tuesday extinguisher; CRAQUELURE”

Previously, winners were published in a special issue of the magazine Scribendi. However, since 2017, winners have been published in a special contest issue of Sink Hollow. The online versions of past and present Creative Writing Contest magazines are available to the USU community.

In addition to publication in a special Sink Hollow issue, contest winners are eligible to apply for the Ralph Jennings Smith Endowment - Creative Writing scholarship.