2023 Wisconsin Young Writers Award
First Place: “December 7, 1941” by Violet Larson (Sun Prairie)
Honorable Mention: “What America Means” by Grace Huang (Fitchburg)
Judged by the ALL Literary Arts Team
The Wisconsin Young Writers Award recognizes high school students who excel at creative writing. The contest is open to any Wisconsin high school student and is free to enter.
The ALL Literary Arts Team will select one winner and one honorable mention. The winner receives $250 and the honorable mention receives $50. Winners, honorable mentions, and their sponsoring teachers (if applicable) are invited to attend the annual reading and reception which takes place at ALL on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 6 PM. This event is free and open to the public.
Past Winners
2022
Imani Fisher, Monona, for “Birthday Party” (poem)
Honorable Mention: Grace Huang, Madison, for “Stinky Fish” (personal essay)
2019
Tim Wang: Hartland, for “A Tailor’s Tale”
Honorable Mention: Marianna Kruger, Hartland, for “Black Sails”
2018
Elizabeth Stanfield, Ripon, for “Hand-Me-Downs”
Honorable Mention: Emily Kadrich, Hartland, for “Never Again: August 28,1955”
2014
Kade Byrand, IDEAS Academy, Sheboygan, “Shadow Dad”
Honorable Mention: Erica Howe, Viroqua Area Public School, Readstown “Narrowing it Down”
2013
Hannah Kinzer, Eisenhower Middle and High School, New Berlin “Thirty Thousand Feet in the Air”
Honorable Mention: Satir Kalsi, Brookfield Academy, “Out of the Cold, a Friend”
2012
Tatiana Lyons, Madison West High School, “The Greatest Wizard in South Dakota”
Honorable Mention: Elijah Carrel, Madison West High School, “Thank You, Christopher Columbus”
2011
Annetta Lorraine Martin, Milwaukee High School of the Arts, “Tiny Fingers”
Honorable Mention: Brandon Hansen, Florence High School, Florence, “You Have My Heart (At Least for the Most Part)”
2010
Caroline Brown, Williams Bay High School, Williams Bay, “Surviving the Hill”
Honorable Mention: Jacob Carrel, Madison West High School, Madison, “James Buchanan’s Presidency: A Crisis Without a Leader”
2009
Shauna Nicole Ward, Williams Bay High School, Williams Bay, “A Lesson in Goodbyes”
Honorable Mention: Phoebe Dyer, Homestead High School, Mequon, “The Dancer”
2008
Jennifer Heup, Shawano Community High School, Shawano, “Observations of an Amateur Astronomer”
Honorable Mention: Ellen Bley, Kettle Moraine High School, Wales, “Both”