Undergraduate Literary Prizes

The Cadigan Prizes for Younger Writers, judged each year by a writer not affiliated with the university, recognize outstanding works of poetry and prose by Bucknell undergraduates. First and second place prizes, as well as honorable mentions, are awarded in each of two genres: prose, which includes both fiction and creative nonfiction, and poetry. The awards are made possible by the generous support of Robb Cadigan '86 and his wife Joan Daughen Cadigan '86.

The Julia Fonville Smithson Memorial Prize, established in the memory of a Bucknell graduate who died in 1977, also awards prizes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The winning manuscripts are selected each year by a committee of English professors.

Each year the Annual Student Reading gathers the winners of the two contests for a formal reading in Bucknell Hall. The winners are announced early in the spring semester.

To submit literary work for the 2012-13 Cadigan Prizes, please use the Stadler Center Application Portal, at right. (All submissions must be received via the portal; we no longer accept paper submissions.) The deadline for the 2012-13 prizes is December 4, 2012. Notification is in January.

For information on submitting to the Smithson Prize, please contact the English Department.

 

Cadigan Prize for Younger Writers 2011–12

This year’s poetry judge was poet Janice Harrington, author of the book Even the Hollow My Body Made is Gone. The prose judge was fiction writer Jacob Appel, author of over 100 short stories published in magazines and journals. Poetry prizes are awarded for an entire manuscript and prose prizes for a single short story or essay.

 

First Place Prize

Kiki van der Gracht '12, poetry
"Ravenous Longing" and Other Poems

Kiara Huertas '14, prose
"Love and Roosters"

Second Place Prize

Kate Berner '12, poetry
"The Sirius Patrol" and Other Poems

Megan Reid '14, prose
"She Cried So I Cried"

Honorable Mention

Kiara Huertas '14, poetry
"To an Ex-Lover" and Other Poems

Jennifer Langione '12, prose
"Rekindling the Flame" and Other Poems

 

Julia Fonville Smithson Memorial Prizes 2012

The Smithson Memorial Prizes are judged by a committee of Bucknell English professors.

Fiction Winner
Lauren Krichilsky '12
"River By Death"

Nonfiction Winner
Sarah Small '12
"Hermana, Translated"

Co-Winner, Poetry
David Moffat '12
"Saints and Deer" and Other Poems

Co-Winner, Poetry
Yulissa Hildago '12
"Am I Your Maid?" and Other Poems