Awards

The students and staff of the D.C. Creative Writing Workshop have earned numerous awards and accolades since the program was founded in 1995. These include the following:

Parkmont Poetry Contest

The Parkmont Poetry Contest is an annual citywide competition which designates 20 winners in the lower school division (6th through 8th grades) and 20 in the upper school division (9th through 12th grades). For several years, Workshop students from Hart have won more awards than any other middle or junior high school in the city.

In 2010, we had five winners from Hart—Stelita Better, DeArren Dawkins,Sieeda Jones, Kierra Parks and Lakeisha Thompson—and Ballou had four—Maryum Abdullah, Tamera Pearson, Nichell Kee, and Sequan Wilson. Three other DCCWW students won: Jessica Carpenter from Luke C. Moore Academy, Kee'Shawn Murphy from M.C. Terrell Elementary, and Monae Smith from Hospitality Public Charter School.

In 2009, we had nine winners from Hart—Lamara Brooks, Bernice Caldwell, Davon Ford, Devon Hudson, Khalil Jones, Shawntay Kent, Kirk Murphy, Khadijah Rashad and DarVel Suggs—and Ballou had six—Marcus Barnes, Damon Kee, Nichell Kee, Steven Reed, Renita Williams and Sequan Wilson. Two other Workshop students won: Monae Smith from Hospitality Public Charter School, and Kiana Murphy from Friendship Collegiate Academy.

In 2008, we had four winners from Hart—Rian Hayes, Cherish Carroll, Tracey Harris and Anthony Torrence—and three winners from Ballou—Yasmine Jones, Luqman Abdullah and Maryum Abdullah.

In 2007, Hart had eight winners—Luqman Abdullah, Shamia House, Antonio Spencer, Quanika Jackson, Raymond Reynolds, Monae Smith, Jasmine Murray, and Tiara Mason—and Ballou had five—Maryum Abdullah, Ashley Barber, Damon Kee, James Saunders, and Renita Williams. One Workshop student from the SAIL Public Charter School, James Tindle, also won.

In 2006, Hart had five winners—Mercede Monroe, Renita Williams, Monae Smith, Reginald Conway, James Tindle—and Ballou had four—James Saunders, Brittany Keys, Malik Battle, and Rayshaun Bernaugh.

Ten of our students won the Parkmont Poetry Contest in 2004, left to right: Alyssa Flemming, Reginald Williams, Raekala Middleton, Steven Reed, Brittany Love, James Saunders, Tayonne Casey, Ricardo Jackson, Delonte Morrow, and Sherrell Jones

Larry Neal Awards

The Larry Neal Awards, sponsored by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, honor the best writing by adults, youth, and teens in a handful of categories. Winners receive cash prizes at a formal ceremony at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

In 2010, DCCWW students nearly swept the prizes in Youth Poetry: David Thomas won 2nd place, Lakeisha Thompson won 3rd place, and Sharri Barnes won Honorable Mention.

In 2009, In Youth Poetry, Imani Hyman won 1st place, Kierra Parks won 3rd place, and Jason Goolsby won honorable mention. James Saunders won 2nd place in Teen Poetry, and Deamonte Gibson won 1st place in Youth Essay.

In 2008, Ishmael Perkins won 1st place in the Youth Essay category, Antione Winfield won 1st place in Youth Fiction, and in Youth Poetry, Rian Hayes won 1st place, Devon Hudson won 3rd place, and Breyonna Douglas won honorable mention.

In 2007, in the Youth Poetry category, Demond Parker won 1st place, Almus Bush, Jr. won 2nd place, and both Shaiski Johnson and Marvin McDowell won honorable mentions. James Saunders won 2nd place and Reginald Conway won honorable mention in Teen Poetry. Lance Favors won honorable mention in Teen Fiction.

In 2006, Reginald Conway won 1st place and Terry Bennett won 2nd place in the Youth Poetry category. James Tindle won 3rd place in Teen Poetry. Darcy Jones-Duberry won 3rd place in Teen Essay.

Four of our five 2008 winners of the Larry Neal awards, left to right: Rian Hayes, Ishmael Perkins, Antione Winfield, and Devon Hudson, with writers-in-residence Dwayne Betts and Drew Evans

Junior League Teen Poetry Competition

The Junior League Teen Poetry Competition honors the best student poem in each grade from the 4th through 8th grades. Cash prizes are awarded at the annual Junior League membership meeting.

In 2010, DCCWW students won three of the prizes: Sharri Barnes for 6th grade, Kierra Parks for 7th grade, and Anthony Bell for 8th grade.

In 2009, Marquise Lewis won the citywide award for 8th grade.

In 2007, Workshop students won three of these citywide awards: Reginald Conway for 8th grade, Mark Neal for 7th grade, and Robert Redd, Jr. for 4th grade.

Workshop students have also won the District Lines Poetry on Metro Contest and the Washington Post KidsPost Poetry Contest. They have had their poetry published in the Potomac Review, and have represented the District of Columbia at the National Teen Poetry Slam. Artistic Director Nancy Schwalb received 2002 “Shayne” NonProfit Leadership Award and she has won six Larry Neal awards for fiction and essays.