GateWay Creative Writing Talent Award Winners

Monday, July 6, 2026

Students gather with their certificates after reading their writing submissions

For many aspiring poets and writers, the end of each academic year culminates with GateWay's Spring Creative Writing Contest. This contest recognizes exceptional student work across a variety of writing styles, highlighting diverse voices and lived experience. Ideal for writers seeking publication credits, peer recognition, and possible awards, the collection offers standout pieces from emerging authors in an academic community committed to student success.

There are four different writing categories, including the relatively new international memoir division, designed for students to tell a story centered around the truth of an experience existing, living, and/or traveling in an international space (for example, topics might include learning a language or experiencing a new culture).

"The creative writing awards ceremony celebrates student achievement in nonfiction, international memoir, fiction, and poetry," said Matt Jolly, GateWay English faculty. "At the event, students read their work to an always-appreciative audience. We share in their humanity--their passion, their joys and fears, their dreams and heartaches, and everyone present is enriched by the experience."

Students not only receive recognition from their peers, they also receive monetary prizes for first, second and third place in each category. The following are the Spring 2026 winners: