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Spectrum Awards

Each year, the English Department honors excellence in student writing through the Spectrum Awards. Essays from ENG 1101, 1201, 1131, as well as essays from our creative writing courses, are nominated for awards. As part of the Spectrum Awards Ceremony, we also honor awardees from the League for Innovation Student Writing Contest and the Paul Laurence Dunbar Poetry Contest.


2023 Spectrum Awards for Excellence in Student Writing

  • Expository Essay: Shelby Stormes
  • Literature Essay: Skyler Bennett
  • Research Essay: Griffin Girard
  • Best Overall Essay: Griffin Girard
  • Outstanding English Major: Em McGowan
  • Outstanding Creative Writing Major: Trinity Minus
  • Outstanding ELL Student: Nataliia Boiko 

For more information about the Spectrum Awards, contact Caroline Reynolds, Director. caroline.reynolds@sinclair.edu


Annual Creative Writing Winners

Poetry, High School Category

  • First place: Josalynn VanOver
  • Second place: Emily Trapp
  • Third place: Ruby Furmanski

Poetry, Adult Category

  • First place: Amanda Banaszak
  • Second place: Eve Glascoe
  • Third place: Fae Storm

Non-Fiction, High School Category

  • First place: Allison Xu
  • Second place: Kelsey Ginter
  • Third place: Christopher Begines

Non-Fiction, Adult Category

  • First place: Willa Richardson
  • Second place: Conner Otoski

Fiction, High School Category

  • First place: Alexandra Corder
  • Second place: Abigail Josephson
  • Third place: Adaobi Iwuanyanwu

Fiction, Adult Category

  • First place: Hannah Smith
  • Second place: Hailey Morgan
  • Third place: Fae Storm

For more information about the Creative Writing Awards contact Jamey Dunham, Director. james.dunham@sinclair.edu


The 2023 Gary Mitchner Prize for Formal Poetry

  • Katelyn Wahl
  • Guy McGuire

The 2023 Deanna Pickard Prize for Poetry

  • Amanda Banaszak
  • Trinity Minus

For more information on the Gary Mitchner Prize for Formal Poetry and the Deanna Pickard Prize for Poetry contact Caroline Reynolds, Director. caroline.reynolds@sinclair.edu