First place winners of Hesston College’s 2025 Acuity Creative Writing Contest are (left to right) April Galicia, Josalyn Wipf, Gresa Arapi and Mariah Hall.
Hesston College is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Acuity Creative Writing Contest, celebrating outstanding student work in poetry, fiction, nonfiction and editorial writing. The winning pieces, along with select honorable mentions and original student artwork, are featured in this year’s edition of “Acuity: the Journal for Writing and Art 2025.”
According to Miriam Barton, English professor and contest coordinator, this year’s contest was particularly robust. Not only did she receive a high number of entries, but the quality of submissions was also very good, making the honor for those selected even more prestigious.
The 2025 Acuity Creative Writing Contest winners are:
- First Place – Poetry: Josalyn Wipf, “Matching”
- Honorable Mention – Poetry: Jamie Krehbiel, “Just Another Woman”
- Honorable Mention – Poetry: Josalyn Wipf, “Table of Grace”
- First Place – Fiction: Mariah Hall, “A Darker Desire”
- Honorable Mention – Fiction: Justin Young, “Document 000”
- Honorable Mention – Fiction: Justin Young, “The Last Test_Epiphany”
- First Place – Nonfiction: April Galicia, “The Big Game”
- Honorable Mention – Nonfiction: Jaylon Hatcher, “The Start of my Football Journey”
- First Place – Editorial: Gresa Arapi, “MLK”
In addition to publication in the 2025 issue of “Acuity,” winners will also be recognized during the May 5 formation gathering where they will share readings from their pieces and receive their awards.
“It is important for academic communities to have a way to publish creative thought as a way to enhance dialogue and diversity of perspective,” shares Barton. “‘Acuity’ serves as a platform for creative writers to share their voice, develop as writers and represent the immense talent that we have here at Hesston College.”
Visit hesston.edu/acuity2025 to read the full issue and view featured student art.