Writing Awards
The University of Michigan-Dearborn Writing Awards promote and recognize excellence in writing among undergraduates.
Awards will be made in the following categories:
- Poetry
- Bill Linn Fiction Prize
- Researched Writing
- Creative Non-fiction
- Writing Through Image and Sound
- Writing in the Public Sphere
- First-Year Writing
- Honors Writing
- Scientific/Technical Writing
$7,500 in total awards. Awards are made possible by the Office of the Provost and the UM-Dearborn Annual Fund.
The Bill Linn Fiction Prize is funded by the family of Professor Bill Linn as a tribute to his love of literature and teaching. The family hopes award recipients treasure their gift of writing and use it to enrich the lives of others.
Rules subject to update
Eligibility
If you’re an undergraduate enrolled at the University of Michigan—Dearborn for at least six hours during the Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Winter 2023 semesters, you’re eligible to enter the Writing Contest.
You may submit work in up to three categories but only one entry per category. You may not submit the same entry in multiple categories. Winning a first-place award in a category makes you ineligible to enter that category in subsequent years.
All entries must be your original work; for collaboratively-created projects, include the names of all authors/creators and detail the contributions of each individual on the entry form.
Entries may not have been previously published (except in student publications).
Final submission deadline is Friday, May 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Winners will be posted by June 16, 2023.
Awards will be reviewed and approved by the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In the case of debts owed to the University, awards will be applied to outstanding balances.
Award winners in the Bill Linn Fiction Category agree to have their work shared privately with the Bill Linn family.
Categories
Poetry: May be of any length. Up to 3 poems as a single entry
Bill Linn Fiction Prize: Up to 30 double-spaced pages; one story per entrant
Creative Non-fiction: Up to 30 double-spaced pages; one essay per entrant
Honors Writing: Writing completed for any Honors course, including COMP 110 & 220
First-year Writing: Writing completed in COMP 105, 106, 227, 270 & 280
Researched Writing: e.g., the critical essay or other researched writing making use of secondary and/or primary sources; up to 25 double-spaced pages
Writing Through Image and Sound: E.g., Web-based writing, digital films with scripts, music and scores, projects that incorporate both text, sound, and/or visual elements
Writing in the Public Sphere: Writing completed in Academic Service-Learning courses, service learning or community-based writing projects, projects related to advocacy or activism, writing about current events
Scientific / Technical Writing: Writing completed in COMP 270, researched projects and/or investigative reports in engineering and natural sciences
Manuscript Format
To ensure objectivity, you must invent a Pen Name. A pen name is a fictitious name that is not your legal name. Your legal name can only appear on the entry form. Neither the judges nor the administrators of the contest will know your identity until the winners have been determined. Type your pen name only on every page of your manuscript.
Each written manuscript must be typed, double-spaced, and uploaded using the online submission system. Label your file with the title only (or titles, for poetry) of your manuscript, ex. Tom's Left Foot.doc.
For multiple media projects that include sound/pictures and/or video that exceed data uploading restrictions, submit a link to your work online via Word document and follow the regular submission process.
Submit your work using our online Submission Form.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 UM-Dearborn Writing Awards
Special thanks to our UM-Dearborn judging panel and external judges:
Danielle DeFauw, Wessam Elmeligi, Jon Haller, Katherine LaCommare, Reb Livingston, Kyhl Lydndgaard, Anna Muller, PF Potvin, Kriszta Sajber, Alicia Schaeffer, Ricco Villanueva Siasoco, Elena Zhang.
Researched Writing
- Patrick Masell: “Memories of the Past; Nightmares of the Future: Reflections of Japan’s Lost Decade Through the Lens of Honda’s Godzilla”
- Ali Bazzi: “A Marketing Model: Assessing The Future Role of AI ChatBots in Advertisement and Copywriting Professions”
- Mariah Barkovitz: “Diversity and Inclusion in The Publishing Industry”
Honorable Mention
- Haneen Hasan: “Heel Prick Tests: Where The Blood Goes”
- Christa Hooper: “The Relationship Between Stress, Affect, and Arts-Based Interventions”
Science/Technical Writing
- Grace Pagnucco: “Analysis of the Evolution and Benefits of Sequential Hermaphroditism in Animals”
-
Maria Victoria Quijada: “Lowering Cholesterol Levels: The Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle Through the Choice of Food”
Writing in the Public Sphere
- Haneen Hasan: “13 Reasons Why Not - The Societal Impacts of a Misguided Show”
-
Amber Ploch: “The Dangerous Reality of the Right”
-
Tyler Nguyen: “The Republican Party and the Asian American Dream”
Honorable Mention
- Amanda Lawson: “Year-Round School—a Benefit for American Students”
- Jinan Khanafer: “Were The Central Park Five Truly Guilty?”
First-Year Writing
-
Alayna Lienemann: “Where are You From?”
-
Madison Chervenak: “’What Do You Think About Breast Implants?:’ How Heartless America was Towards Britney Spears”
-
Maria Baker: “The Intertwined Relationship of Travel and History”
Honorable Mention
- Maria Victoria Quijada: “Black or White? Or Black and White?”
- Freshta Noori and Marlena Gojcaj: “Study Spots at University of Michigan-Dearborn”
Honors
- Adam Almaleky: “How Have Muslims Impacted Metro Detroit?”
- Ava Abramowicz: “Defining Postmodernism: Its Reflection within Artistic Processes”
- Christa Hooper: “A Breath of Fresh Air”
3. Randa Khanafer: “All Roads Lead to Dearborn”
Honorable Mention
- Kalaia Jackson: “The Impact and Success of Dual Enrollment Programs”
Writing Through Image & Sound
- Samuel Tikkanen: “One Step Up, Two Steps Back”
- Hadi Chaaban: “The Metaphor”
- Mirvat Chammout: “The Immersive Screen Podcast”
Honorable Mention
- Brianna Bryant: “Queer Prom in Southwest Detroit”
- Eleanor Raygorodsky: “Contemporary Dance Choreography”
Bill Linn Fiction Prize
- Kelly Turner: "Coyote in the Suburbs"
- Mariah Barkovitz: "Stop Sign"
- Ahmad Majed: "A Sacrifice of Solitude"
Honorable Mention
- Bridget Lawson: "Nightscares"
- Carlos Gonzalez: "The Psychosis Within"
Poetry
- Ali Bazzi: “The Dove has Gone to Sleep”
- Christa Hooper: The Diminution of Day”
- Aviana Simmons: “Long ago, we boarded a ship”
Honorable Mention
- Mila Brown: “Grandma”
- Julia Mioduszewska: “GREEN INK”
Creative Non-Fiction
- Ali Bazzi: “Literacy as a Family Legacy”
- Penny Kane: “Our Last Hug”
- Zahraa Kassem: “Warmth of a Setting Sun”
Honorable Mention
- Pamela Monserrat Velazquez Castillo: “Behind Every Name, There is Always a Story”