Two recent graduates from Mississippi high schools took top honors in the 13th annual Eudora Welty Awards for Creative Writing presented during opening-day ceremonies of the 26th annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference.
Molly Davis won first prize, $500, for her short story "Senator Touches the Water," entered by her English teacher, Emma Richardson. Davis is a student at the Mississippi School for Math and Science in Columbus. She is from Greenville, Mississippi.
Heather Christian won second prize, $250, for four poems, "Short Account of Southern Heritage: An Understatement," "Homage to a Dying Spring," "Observations in a Dallas Airport," and "Love Poem #2." Christian is from Natchez and attends Cathedral High School. Her teacher, Jean Biglane, nominated her poems.
The awards were established and endowed by Frances Patterson of Tupelo, a member of the State Advisory Committee of the Center, which administers the awards. Kathryn McKee, who teaches English and Southern Studies, chaired the committee of contest judges. The awards recognize and encourage the writing talents and efforts of Mississippi high school students.