T he 12th annual Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Awards virtual ceremony was held March 25. Out of 50 submissions, six finalists were selected from two different writing categories—poetry and short story.

First-year and sophomore finalists include: Madeline Teigen of Evans, Georgia (first place), Olivia McClure of Decatur, Georgia (second place) and Jaylan Brooks of Augusta, Georgia (third place). Junior and senior finalists include: William “Tanner” Howard of Toccoa, Georgia (first place), Jacob Dallas of Sharpsburg, Georgia (second place) and Chloe McDargh of Augusta, Georgia (third place).

During the ceremony, finalists read excerpts of their works and were awarded with certificates and prizes. First-place winners received $1,000. Cash prizes were awarded to the remaining top finalists. 

First-year chemistry major Madeline Teigen won top honors with her short story titled “The Forest.” She spent approximately 36 hours on this project. 

“Writing allows me to express myself creatively,” she said. “It serves as an outlet and it also helps me with technical writing that I use for my major.”

Teigen feels it’s important for individuals to write. Writing allows people to explore their imagination and create something of their own. She feels Georgia College provides a place where she can express her ideas freely.

“Georgia College gives me a chance to explore different subjects and areas of interest so I don’t have to go down just one path,” Teigen said. “I can pursue multiple ones.”

She’s grateful to receive the Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award and feels it validates her writing skills.

“Winning the award means a lot to me, because it shows that I’ve had the chance to perfect my writing skills,” she said. “I still had a chance to work on my writing while I worked on my schoolwork.” 

Teigen plans to save her prize funds for graduate school, after which she aspires to work in forensics.

Senior Tanner Howard discovered the inspiration for his poem “Maine,” when he traveled there a few years ago. 

Howard feels writing helps him grow as a person, especially since he’s passionate about it.

“I love when an idea inspires me, and I just go with it,” he said. “When I’m in the zone and there’s nothing but me and the paper—it’s one of the best feelings there is.”

Howard credits his writing professors for his writing success. 

“Laura Newbern and Kerry Evans are really great professors, who taught me a lot of about my own writing and other people’s writing,” he said. “The Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award helped, as well.”

Since his first year at Georgia College, Howard submitted seven pieces to the Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award. He won second and third place when he was a junior and feels that submitting his works to this opportunity is an important gauge in determining his writing ability.

“When you write, recognition is important,” said Howard. “Writing’s an ongoing process, and it’s really good to have people acknowledge when your writing grows.”

Howard is getting married soon, so he plans to spend his winnings on the wedding and the honeymoon. The couple plan to travel across the U.S. and write about more places. Howard’s working on getting his first collection of poems published. “Maine” is part of his travel poem collection.

“My future goal is to be a writer,” said Howard. “It’s what I love to do and it makes me feel like the best version of me when I do it.”

Winning the Margaret Harvin Wilson Writing Award is validating to Howard, as well.

“It really shows there are people who care about your work,” he said. “People want to read it and connect with you. Having the funds to be able to keep writing really means a lot to me.”

The award was established in memory of Margaret Harvin Wilson, ’34. She was the first in her family to attend college, as her father provided her with a small trust. Wilson finished Georgia College in three years. While majoring in English and minoring in French, Wilson waited tables in the dining hall, so she could have discounted tuition while living in a free dormitory. As a senior, a teacher encouraged her to enter a short story contest. Winning first prize in 1933 for “Sympathy Speaks” gave her confidence to pursue a teaching career.

She married Leland Wilson in 1938. Their three daughters pursued careers in medicine, law and higher education.

This writing award exemplifies Wilson’s drive for students to explore new worlds through creative writing.

To learn more, visit: https://www.gcsu.edu/writingcontest.