Eight students were honored during the third annual Alex H. Revell III '43 Writing Contest awards ceremony which took place Friday, May 18, 2012 in the Humphrey Family Writing Center. The contest honoring the late Alex Revell, former Hill English instructor, included three categories: nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. The Gardner Prize for Nonfiction is named in memory of Bon Gardner ’64, former Hill instructor of English; The Marshall Prize in Poetry is named in honor of Ann Marshall, instructor of English emeritus; and The Wolff Prize in Fiction is named in honor of Tobias Wolff ’64, acclaimed author of the book, Old School.

The Gardner Prize for Nonfiction:
First place: Zachary Hudak ’13 (The Great American Sports Failure)
Second place: Noah Drauschak ’12 (Lunch with Matthew)
Third place: Cassandra Borelly ’13 (My Tattoo)

The Marshall Prize for Poetry:
First place: Caitlin Stouvenot ’12 (Untitled)
Second place: Ivie Eweka ’13 (On the Train)
Third place: Tony Zhang ’15 (Allow Me to Show You)

The Wolff Prize for Fiction:
First place: Eszter Veto ’13 (Scars)
Second place: Noah Drauschak ’12 (The Pit)
Third place: My Linh Luu ’14 (Cur Viximus in CB-04)

Cita Revell, wife of Mr. Revell, and their daughter, Amy, along with Jean Gardner,
wife of Bon Gardner, were present to assist with the award presentations. Also present were the Rev. Mark Rigg, former Hill instructor of English, who spoke on behalf of Ann Marshall; Mr. Ryck Walbridge, assistant headmaster for academics, who spoke about his dear friend and former colleague, Bon Gardner; and Mr. Tony Reid '75, director of the Humphrey Family Writing Center, who spoke on behalf of Tobias Wolff.

 

Special thanks to the supporters of this contest in memory of Alex Revell: V. Neils Agather '75; Dr. Daniel Fort ’76; Mr. James P. O’Mealia ’76, P’03, ’07, ’08, ’11; John Summerlin, Jr. '74 and The Page and Otto Marx Foundation; Jean Gardner; and Tony Reid '75.

The entries were read and critiqued by professional writers who selected the top three winners for each category. Kate Carlisle, journalist and former editor at the Washington Post, judged the nonfiction category; Brian Clements, poet and professor at Western Connecticut State University, reviewed the poetry category; and Pinckney Benedict '82, author and professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, judged the fiction submissions.