Prior Scholarship and Award Winners
2018 Denise Gess Literary Award Winners
Rowan University Prize for Poetry
First Place
Red--Morgan Douglas
Second Place
Bloom and Decay--Daniel McGilloway
Third Place
Meraki--Vasiliki Dinoulis
Honorable Mention
Procrastinators, Pyromaniacs and Other Patron Saints of Holocen--Tara Lonsdorf
Far Away Friends--Kylee Bagley
Ghosts I Carry--by Laura Kincaid
Edward Czwartacki Prize for Fiction
First Place
When She Asks to Go Home-- Tara O’Day
Second Place
Unidentified-- Daniel DeLuise
Third Place
Strong For Us-- Dylann Cohn-Emery
Honorable Mention
Coulrophobia--Daniel McGilloway
Pat B. Tweedie Prize for Creative Nonfiction
First Place
Caught in the Intersection--Alex Phillips
Second Place
Haunted--Rachel Barton
Third Place
Fine--Emily Strauser
Honorable Mention
An Ode to an Oak Table--Alix McKinstry
Music—A Double Sided Portrait--Justina Addice
Judges
Megan Atwood, Ed Briant, Robert Evans, Joan Hanna, Lisa Jahn-Clough, Tim Zatzariny
First Place
Red--Morgan Douglas
Second Place
Bloom and Decay--Daniel McGilloway
Third Place
Meraki--Vasiliki Dinoulis
Honorable Mention
Procrastinators, Pyromaniacs and Other Patron Saints of Holocen--Tara Lonsdorf
Far Away Friends--Kylee Bagley
Ghosts I Carry--by Laura Kincaid
Edward Czwartacki Prize for Fiction
First Place
When She Asks to Go Home-- Tara O’Day
Second Place
Unidentified-- Daniel DeLuise
Third Place
Strong For Us-- Dylann Cohn-Emery
Honorable Mention
Coulrophobia--Daniel McGilloway
Pat B. Tweedie Prize for Creative Nonfiction
First Place
Caught in the Intersection--Alex Phillips
Second Place
Haunted--Rachel Barton
Third Place
Fine--Emily Strauser
Honorable Mention
An Ode to an Oak Table--Alix McKinstry
Music—A Double Sided Portrait--Justina Addice
Judges
Megan Atwood, Ed Briant, Robert Evans, Joan Hanna, Lisa Jahn-Clough, Tim Zatzariny
2016 Denise Gess Literary Awards at Rowan University
Edward Czwartacki Prize for Fiction
First Place
Fat Loser—Michael Comoroto
Second Place
Nightmare in Suburbia—Colin Boyle
Third Place
How the Seasons Changed—Stephanie Daley
Honorable Mention
Selene—Mark Ackerman
Fire Sucks—Joe Jordan
Rowan University Prize for Poetry
First Place
Tuckahoe Road—Robert Henhaffer
Second Place
Nodus Tollens—Vasiliki Dinoulis
Third Place
Gloucester County—Jennifer Martin
Honorable Mention
Doublethink—Ethan Stoetzer
Then Brutus Spoke of Honor—Joe Jordan
Pat B. Tweedie Prize for Creative Nonfiction
First Place
Eyes of the Storm—Alicia Rodriguez
Second Place
Never Ending—Susette Brooks
Third Place
Uncle Jab and the House of Pain—Daniel DeLuise
Honorable Mention
My Brother’s Ashes—Michael Comoroto
A Perfectionist’s Playbook—Liz Ditzel
Calendar—Rachel Barton
Now I Know—Nah’Ja Washington
First Place
Fat Loser—Michael Comoroto
Second Place
Nightmare in Suburbia—Colin Boyle
Third Place
How the Seasons Changed—Stephanie Daley
Honorable Mention
Selene—Mark Ackerman
Fire Sucks—Joe Jordan
Rowan University Prize for Poetry
First Place
Tuckahoe Road—Robert Henhaffer
Second Place
Nodus Tollens—Vasiliki Dinoulis
Third Place
Gloucester County—Jennifer Martin
Honorable Mention
Doublethink—Ethan Stoetzer
Then Brutus Spoke of Honor—Joe Jordan
Pat B. Tweedie Prize for Creative Nonfiction
First Place
Eyes of the Storm—Alicia Rodriguez
Second Place
Never Ending—Susette Brooks
Third Place
Uncle Jab and the House of Pain—Daniel DeLuise
Honorable Mention
My Brother’s Ashes—Michael Comoroto
A Perfectionist’s Playbook—Liz Ditzel
Calendar—Rachel Barton
Now I Know—Nah’Ja Washington
Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award
The Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion is awarded to an undergraduate senior who has demonstrated outstanding course performance, strong leadership skills, and excellent career potential as a writer and as a teacher of writing. Eligible students are those who either graduated in December or are about to graduate in May with a BA in Writing Arts and a GPA of 3.5 or above.
2018—Sara Skipp
2017—Sarah Knapp
2016—Robert Josey
2015—Carly Szabo
2014—Rachel Mamola
2013—Cherita Harrell
2012—Christopher Cullen
2011—Amanda Haruch
2010—Katherin Fitzpatrick
2009—Ryan Kristopovich
2017—Sarah Knapp
2016—Robert Josey
2015—Carly Szabo
2014—Rachel Mamola
2013—Cherita Harrell
2012—Christopher Cullen
2011—Amanda Haruch
2010—Katherin Fitzpatrick
2009—Ryan Kristopovich
AnToinette Libro Graduate Medallion Award
This medallion is awarded to a Master of Arts in Writing student who has demonstrated outstanding course performance, exceptional writing ability, and strong professionalism. This award is sponsored by Dr. Antoinette Libro, former dean of the College of Communication.
Criteria:
· Graduation from the MA in Writing at least by August of the year the student is being considered
· GPA above 3.6
· Currently in good academic standing as defined by the MA in Writing through Global Learning
· No incompletes on transcript
· Enrollment in with the expectation of completion of Seminar II and participation in Symposium
· Writing shows promise for publication.
Criteria:
· Graduation from the MA in Writing at least by August of the year the student is being considered
· GPA above 3.6
· Currently in good academic standing as defined by the MA in Writing through Global Learning
· No incompletes on transcript
· Enrollment in with the expectation of completion of Seminar II and participation in Symposium
· Writing shows promise for publication.
2018--Myriah Stubee
2017--Michael Fotos
2016--Jennifer K. Martin
2015--Steve Royek
2014--Jorie Rao
2013--Christen Otter
2012--Joseph McGee
2011--Diane Stopyra
2010--Steven Harbold
2009--Rebecca Bland
2008--Betsy Haase
2007--Joseph Lombo
2006--Amy Kudelka
2017--Michael Fotos
2016--Jennifer K. Martin
2015--Steve Royek
2014--Jorie Rao
2013--Christen Otter
2012--Joseph McGee
2011--Diane Stopyra
2010--Steven Harbold
2009--Rebecca Bland
2008--Betsy Haase
2007--Joseph Lombo
2006--Amy Kudelka
Cliff Mautner Scholarship
2015--Kyle Hamilton
2014 DENISE GESS LITERARY AWARDS
The Edward Czwartacki Award for Fiction
First Place
Katelyn Sullivan, '15, "Harlequin"
Second Place
Regina McMenamin-Lloyd, '15, "The Scarlett Splinter"
Third Place
Kristina Forest, '14, "As of Yet…"
The Pat B. Tweedie Award for Nonfiction
First Place
Ojas Patel, '14, "Your New Face"
Second Place
Joe DiCarlo, '14, "Six Days in the Absence of Life"
Third Place
Alfred J. Dansbury, Sr., COGS, "Making Do"
Honorable Mention
Carol Magrino, MAW, "Subscribing"
The Rowan University Prize for Poetry (for collections)
First place
Joe Jordan, '17, "Observations and a Cozy Chair"
Second Place
Stephanie Kohler, '14, "Stuck on the Cusp"
Third Place
Regina McMenamin-Lloyd, '15, "Nostaligia Poetry"
Honorable Mention (for individual poems):
Ojas Patel, '14, "How to Make Samosas"; "Mom's Grief Upon a Return to India"
Dave Vogtman, '15, "Dishonest Abe"
Ethan Stoetzer, '16, "The Killing Tree"
Daniel DeLuise, '16, "Afterlife"
Laurie Toich, '15, "How to Be a Good Parent"
Vincent Lanni, '14, "Write in Color”
First Place
Katelyn Sullivan, '15, "Harlequin"
Second Place
Regina McMenamin-Lloyd, '15, "The Scarlett Splinter"
Third Place
Kristina Forest, '14, "As of Yet…"
The Pat B. Tweedie Award for Nonfiction
First Place
Ojas Patel, '14, "Your New Face"
Second Place
Joe DiCarlo, '14, "Six Days in the Absence of Life"
Third Place
Alfred J. Dansbury, Sr., COGS, "Making Do"
Honorable Mention
Carol Magrino, MAW, "Subscribing"
The Rowan University Prize for Poetry (for collections)
First place
Joe Jordan, '17, "Observations and a Cozy Chair"
Second Place
Stephanie Kohler, '14, "Stuck on the Cusp"
Third Place
Regina McMenamin-Lloyd, '15, "Nostaligia Poetry"
Honorable Mention (for individual poems):
Ojas Patel, '14, "How to Make Samosas"; "Mom's Grief Upon a Return to India"
Dave Vogtman, '15, "Dishonest Abe"
Ethan Stoetzer, '16, "The Killing Tree"
Daniel DeLuise, '16, "Afterlife"
Laurie Toich, '15, "How to Be a Good Parent"
Vincent Lanni, '14, "Write in Color”
2012 Denise Gess Literary Awards at Rowan
The Edward J. Czwartacki Award for Short Fiction
1st - "The Incisor" - Katelyn Catinella, Class of 2012
2nd - "Cedric the Great" - Kristina Forest, Class of 2014
3rd - "The Path" - Christopher Cullen, Class of 2012
Honorable Mention
"The Cemetery Watchers" - Alex Grover, Class of 2014
"The Couch in the Basement" - Samantha Brown, second year MAW
The Pat. B. Tweedie Award for Creative Nonfiction
1st - "Atop the Camel’s Hump" - Casey Otto, Class of 2012
2nd - "The Bridge" - Lacey Bouchard, Class of 2013
3rd - "Hate Island" - Samantha Brown, second year MAW program
Honorable Mention
"The Hike" - Kayla Ewing, Class of 2013
"The Great Blue Circle" - Natalie Busarello, Class of 2013
Rowan University Prize for Poetry
1st - "Have You Seen Me?" - Joe McGee, second year MAW program
2nd - "The Devil We Know (and other Folklore from the Garden State)" -Samantha Brown, second year MAW program
3rd - "Authentic Philosophy" - Rebecca Force, second year MAW program
Honorable Mention
"Carpooling to Game Night" - Jayne Dzuback, Class of 2012
"Obsessive Love Disorder" - Regina McMenamin Lloyd, Class of 2015
"dream-walking" - Meghan O’Donnell, second year MAW program
"Resignation" - Anita Sipala, Class of 2012
1st - "The Incisor" - Katelyn Catinella, Class of 2012
2nd - "Cedric the Great" - Kristina Forest, Class of 2014
3rd - "The Path" - Christopher Cullen, Class of 2012
Honorable Mention
"The Cemetery Watchers" - Alex Grover, Class of 2014
"The Couch in the Basement" - Samantha Brown, second year MAW
The Pat. B. Tweedie Award for Creative Nonfiction
1st - "Atop the Camel’s Hump" - Casey Otto, Class of 2012
2nd - "The Bridge" - Lacey Bouchard, Class of 2013
3rd - "Hate Island" - Samantha Brown, second year MAW program
Honorable Mention
"The Hike" - Kayla Ewing, Class of 2013
"The Great Blue Circle" - Natalie Busarello, Class of 2013
Rowan University Prize for Poetry
1st - "Have You Seen Me?" - Joe McGee, second year MAW program
2nd - "The Devil We Know (and other Folklore from the Garden State)" -Samantha Brown, second year MAW program
3rd - "Authentic Philosophy" - Rebecca Force, second year MAW program
Honorable Mention
"Carpooling to Game Night" - Jayne Dzuback, Class of 2012
"Obsessive Love Disorder" - Regina McMenamin Lloyd, Class of 2015
"dream-walking" - Meghan O’Donnell, second year MAW program
"Resignation" - Anita Sipala, Class of 2012
2010 Denise Gess Literary Awards
The Rowan University Prize for Poetry
First Place: "Five Poems" by Steven Harbold
Second Place: "Stories I Tell Myself" by Katherin Fitzpatrick
Third Place, a three-way tie:
"In Stitches" by Kate Peterson
"The Natural World" by Ryan Wenzel
"Form Studies" by Jonathan Wood
Honorable Mentions (for individual poems)
"Phase II" by Samantha Brown
"Waves of Love" by Sarah Kasama
"Is It Better?" by Rebecca Force
"Iron Oxide" and "Personal Poem #6" by Jayne Dzuback
The Pat B. Tweedie Award for Creative Nonfiction
First Place: "Solitude" by Melanie Pauker
Second Place: "You Are a Runner, and I Am My Father’s Son" by Bill Elenbark
Third Place: "Fear and Loathing on the Road in South Jersey: The Fall of the Heads" by Justin Eric Totora
Honorable Mentions:
"Inked" by Jackie Cassidy
"The Homerun Heard Round the Neighborhood" by Steven Harbold
"Accordian Bookcases" by Sarah Kasama
The Edward J. Czwartacki Award for Fiction
First Place: "Hondo" by Jackie Cassidy
Second Place Tie: "The Prize" by Hayley Van Amburg
"Cigarettes Will Kill You" by Bill Elenbark
Third Place: "Death’s Room" by Sam Dodge
Honorable Mentions:
"Let the Gun Do the Talking" by Steve Smith
"You’ll Have to Learn to Love Me the Way I Love You" by Anthony Dragonetti
First Place: "Five Poems" by Steven Harbold
Second Place: "Stories I Tell Myself" by Katherin Fitzpatrick
Third Place, a three-way tie:
"In Stitches" by Kate Peterson
"The Natural World" by Ryan Wenzel
"Form Studies" by Jonathan Wood
Honorable Mentions (for individual poems)
"Phase II" by Samantha Brown
"Waves of Love" by Sarah Kasama
"Is It Better?" by Rebecca Force
"Iron Oxide" and "Personal Poem #6" by Jayne Dzuback
The Pat B. Tweedie Award for Creative Nonfiction
First Place: "Solitude" by Melanie Pauker
Second Place: "You Are a Runner, and I Am My Father’s Son" by Bill Elenbark
Third Place: "Fear and Loathing on the Road in South Jersey: The Fall of the Heads" by Justin Eric Totora
Honorable Mentions:
"Inked" by Jackie Cassidy
"The Homerun Heard Round the Neighborhood" by Steven Harbold
"Accordian Bookcases" by Sarah Kasama
The Edward J. Czwartacki Award for Fiction
First Place: "Hondo" by Jackie Cassidy
Second Place Tie: "The Prize" by Hayley Van Amburg
"Cigarettes Will Kill You" by Bill Elenbark
Third Place: "Death’s Room" by Sam Dodge
Honorable Mentions:
"Let the Gun Do the Talking" by Steve Smith
"You’ll Have to Learn to Love Me the Way I Love You" by Anthony Dragonetti
Spring 2008 Hollybush Writing Competition
First Place, Frank Paladino
Second Place, Kevin Ialeggio
Third Place, Gary Rettberg
Second Place, Kevin Ialeggio
Third Place, Gary Rettberg
Rowan University Literary Awards
(Click on the links for .pdfs of the winning entries.)
Edward J. Czwartacki Award for Fiction
2008, First Place, "Echoes," by Bill Stewart, MAW program
Second Place, "I Need a Bike," by Joe Carlough, 2009
Third Place, tie, "Translation," by George Jacob, MAW program; "Things that Can’t be Seen," by David Brennan, MAW program
Honorable Mention, "Kuwait, Briefly," by Kamala Lane, 2008; "The Heart of the Storm," by Daniel Paganelli, 2008; "Rabbi," by Steven R. Levine, 2008
Second Place, "I Need a Bike," by Joe Carlough, 2009
Third Place, tie, "Translation," by George Jacob, MAW program; "Things that Can’t be Seen," by David Brennan, MAW program
Honorable Mention, "Kuwait, Briefly," by Kamala Lane, 2008; "The Heart of the Storm," by Daniel Paganelli, 2008; "Rabbi," by Steven R. Levine, 2008
R.U. Award for Poetry
2008, First Place, "Snapshots from the Field," by Jonathan Guito, 2008
Second Place, "Poems 2008," by Katherin Fitzpatrick, 2010
Third Place, "The Homewrecker’s Handbook," by Justin Davis, 2010
Second Place, "Poems 2008," by Katherin Fitzpatrick, 2010
Third Place, "The Homewrecker’s Handbook," by Justin Davis, 2010
Honorable Mention, individual poems
"Hunger," "Pay to Play" by Janelle Tillman, 2010;
"Penny Arboretum," "Crystals," "Passion fruit," by Joe Carlough, 2009;
"Brother, Sister," by David Brennan, MAW program;
"Dragonflies," "Chicago," by Joan Hanna, 2009;
"Feeling 'Goodness'," by Anthony Belluscio, 2009;
"Finding Daddy," by Calley Steel, 2010
"Penny Arboretum," "Crystals," "Passion fruit," by Joe Carlough, 2009;
"Brother, Sister," by David Brennan, MAW program;
"Dragonflies," "Chicago," by Joan Hanna, 2009;
"Feeling 'Goodness'," by Anthony Belluscio, 2009;
"Finding Daddy," by Calley Steel, 2010
R.U. Award for Creative Nonfiction
2008, First Place, "Snuff," by Rebecca Bland, MAW program
Second Place, "Wonderland," by David Brennan, MAW program
Honorable Mention, "Never There," by Christina Weil, 2008; "Realization through Service," by Mike Breuning, 2011; "Holes in My Pockets," by Gabriel Arnold, 2011.
Second Place, "Wonderland," by David Brennan, MAW program
Honorable Mention, "Never There," by Christina Weil, 2008; "Realization through Service," by Mike Breuning, 2011; "Holes in My Pockets," by Gabriel Arnold, 2011.
