2009 Valley Voices
Writing Contest
Guidelines
 
View 2009
Submission Form

2008 Winners
Poetry
Fiction
Essay
Autobiography

2007 Winners
Poetry
Fiction
Essay
Autobiography

2006 Winners
Poetry
Fiction
Essay
Autobiography

2005 Winners
Poetry
Fiction
Essay
 

Announcing...
 2009 Call for Voices
Deadline: To Be Announced

We were prompted to sponsor this writing contest by a single voice -- asking several years ago at our Osborne meeting, “Who and where are the writers to speak for those living in this part of Kansas now?” And, with the encouragement of five Kansas authors, we reached out, and encouraged writers to participate. We are grateful that Robert Day, Denise Low, Tom Averill, Jim Hoy, and Fred Whitehead challenged us and then volunteered to judge the writing. Since then, Tom Averill has been replaced as a judge by Mary O’Connell of Lawrence.

The many fine entries for the first three “Call for Voices” contests have encouraged the Alliance to continue this competition. Plans are underway to publish a booklet of many entries from those three contests. Winners of the 2007 contest continue to be published in each issue of SVA. Winning entries of the 2008 contest will also be published. The projected booklet will permit publication of more of the entries and reach a larger audience.

2009 Competition: Date TO BE ANNOUNCED!

As poet Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg says, “Write Where You Are.”
 

Keep on writing!   ►

Scroll Down to View Previous Year's Winners

View 2008 Guidelines

2008 Winner's List
Click Underlined to Read Selection

Congratulations to all the writers
who entered the contest. 

Youth Poetry
First: Madison Nichol, Downs
Second: Dayna Mannebach, Oakley
Third: Sierra Senger, Glen Elder
 

Youth Essay
First: Ashley Haverkamp, Seneca
Second: Patrick Strathman, Seneca
 

Adult Poetry
First: Rachel Johnson, Hays
Second: Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
Third (tie):Rachel Johnson, Hays, & Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa

Adult Essay
First & Second: Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
Third: Gail McComb, Stockton
 

Adult Fiction
First: Claudia Mundell, Carthage MO
Second: Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
Third: Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
  

Adult Autobiography
First: Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
Second: Joseph E. Hubbard, Osborne
Third: Suzanne Waring, Great Falls, MT

2007 Winner's List
Click Underlined to Read Selection

Congratulations to all the writers
who entered the contest. 

Youth Poetry
First: Jordan Flower, Cawker City;
Second: Jeffry Culp, Cawker City;
Third (tie): Ryan Hansen, Downs
                Trevor Winkel, Glen Elder
 

Adult Poetry
First: Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
Second: Rachel Johnson, Hays
Third (tie): Marjorie Gentry, Beloit

                Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
  

Adult Fiction
First: Mary Williamson Lavy, Glasco
Second: Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
Third: Marjorie Gentry, Beloit

 
Adult Essay
First & Second: Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
Third: Donna Opat, LindsborG

 
Adult Autobiography
First: Joyce Koops, Downs
Second (tie): Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
                    Lora K. Reiter, Ottawa
Third: Joseph E. Hubbard, Osborne.

   

2006 Valley Voices Winners
Click Underlined to Read Selection
 

Adult Poetry
First: Rachel Johnson, Hays
Second: Claudia Mundell, Carthage, MO
Third (Tie): Edward Albán, Glasco
                   Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
                   Rachel Johnson, Hays
                   Charlotte Keith, Morland
 

Adult Essay
First: Avalon Melton, Stockton
Second:Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
Third (Tie): Gail McComb, Stockton
                   Avalon Melton, Stockton
 

Adult Fiction
First: Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
Second: Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
Third: Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
 

Adult Autobiography
First: Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
Second: Marjorie Gentry, Beloit
Third: Janice McIntosh, Manhattan.

2005 Valley Voices Winners
Click Underlined to Read Selection

45 entries in four categories were judged by a panel of five eminent Kansas authors including: Denise Low, Bob Day, Tom Averill, Jim Hoy and Fred Whitehead.
 

Youth Poetry:
► First - Hannah Renken, Downs

Second - Jerry Davis, Downs
Third - Connor Shoemaker, Glen Elder
 

Adult Poetry
► First - Jo Ann Cool Albán, Glasco

Second - Dorothy Sprenkel, Hill City
Third - Susan Inskeep, Cawker City
 

Adult Essay
► First - Janice McIntosh, Manhattan

Second - Avalon Melton, Stockton
Third - Gail McComb, Stockton
 
Adult Fiction
► First - Jo Ann Cool Albán, Glasco

Several entries received honorable mention

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