Nyah Philip: “Red Nail Theory”

Judges' Note:

Balancing sardonic wit against the frightful challenges that face women in this “zero-sum game” of “damned if you do / damned if you don’t,” this piece is both testimony and memoriam. With coy lines that rise like a veil to reveal frustrated truths, the poem brings us to the understanding that the same confounding, deadly demons chasing modern women have chased them in past generations—no matter how humble or brightly lit one’s nails gleam in society’s spotlight. A powerful poem.  

Nyah Philip is an Environmental Engineering major from Ontario Canada. She plans to use her writing to raise awareness of various problems in the world.

Phoebe Demers: "Home"

Judges' Note:

A taut poem with strong visuals that aptly makes use of repetition (“bury me…”) to guide readers through the weighty topics of life, death, a sense of belonging, and a desire to be away somewhere still and quiet, to be part of “the other” far from this human world, but not too far. As Demers suggests, the effort to reconnect is meaningful and worthwhile. A strong message for the living who may yet have time for a second chance.

Phoebe Demers is a biomedical engineering major.  She aspires to work in the field of de-extinction to conserve the natural world that she so adores.

Annika Seeley: “The Mushroom”

Judges' Note:

Like any good mushroom, this short, tight poem packs earthy references to life and death into every morsel. Its sonorous lines may read as grim upon first pass, but speak to much more—connection, recognition, destiny, and the fleeting moments we have on this earth until we, quite literally, become a part of it. As concise as it is thoughtful.

Annika Seeley is a Sophomore Environmental Science major, with a Geology concentration and plans to do an Astrobiology minor. They are from Pennsylvania and hope to become a Park Ranger while still writing in their free time.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Gwen Moyer: “Untitled (Moon Jellies)” 

Judges' Note:

A reflective poem that speaks to the fragile nature of life and the curious memories that stay with us once we lose those we love. Wonderful rhythm and wordplay. Both devastating and delicate.

Armond Welch: “This is What I Saw” 

Judges' Note:

The sheer amount of effort that went into this piece alone is impressive, but even more, it actually works. To capture the essence of a place through the history of poetry, centuries of it line by line, is a feat.

Emily Huyhua: “Police Sirens” 

Judges' Note:

Sometimes a poem aches to be read aloud, screamed from the page, and this is one with a voice to give its pulsing rhythms a running leap into the memory of the audience. But every good performance begins on a page, and this poem certainly deserves recognition for its movement and message. 

Nathaniel Smith: “I don't visit Pennsylvania much anymore..."/"First Frost"

Judges' Note:

Nathaniel Smith’s wintry and introspective “glosa,” a poem that incorporates a well-known quatrain as the last line of each stanza, begins with a stand-out line and continues to surprise throughout. Form can constrict a poet within its boundaries, but Smith’s poem breathes and moves with a rhythm and rhyme that is natural and musical. This ode to a “boy with eyes an ocean blue” resonates as a tender tribute to love and, coupled with its lines by Frost, is a sophisticated and touching poem.

Nathan Smith is a 4th year Biochemistry and Biophysics PhD student from Lewis Run, Pennsylvania. He studies Alzheimer's Disease and Cancer but writes poetry in his spare time. In 2022 he published his first poetry anthology called "Cotton Candy Sun" and he hopes to publish another one in 2024.

Allie ES Wist: “How to Not Be Well”

Judges' Note:

Wist takes on the important topic of mental health, and its title alone reaches out to us through its use of the “how-to” self-help format. Internal rhyme and adroit line breaks add speed to the language, packing lines such as “I will keep you from falling / at the edges / of a tar pit” with vivid, painful imagery and emotion. This piece stood out for its skillful use of language and tempo.

Allie E.S. Wist is an artist-scholar and PhD student in the Electronic Arts program. Her work focuses on sensory futures, food, and the Anthropocene. She has an MA in Food Studies from New York University and a BA in Media from Boston University; she worked as a photo director for media outlets in New York for over a decade. Her work and workshops have been featured by Honolulu Biennial, The Wellcome Collection, MIT, the Nobel Prize Museum, and Pioneer Works.

Shannon Clark: “Closer”

Judges' Note:

A poem that thrives in subtleties, Clark’s piece is more than a reflection on one’s relationship with a sibling, and avoids becoming a familiar tale of a companion drifting further from the shores of familiarity. To say the poem is simple is a compliment. Unburdened by overwrought wordplay, the piece is touching in its accessibility and thoughtful in its progression. Less can be more, and Clark proves that here.

Shannon Clark is a cognitive science co-term student from New Jersey. She enjoys writing fiction in her free time and someday hopes to write a published novel.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Ankit Kumar Upadhyay: “The Crimson Winter”

Judges' Note:

A contemplative winter poem that explores the season’s juxtaposition against summer, as well as winter’s peaceful connotations against humanity’s violence—the aftermath of which is far more visible in the winter snows.

Tim Lund: “Breathe”

Judges' Note:

Adorned with beautiful imagery, one can smell the forest, feel the soft moss underfoot, and get lost in the sensorial descriptions of this lovely poem.

Phoebe Demers: “Define”

Judges' Note:

This complex, brilliant essay deftly braids numerous themes, exploring identity through metaphors of theater, slavery, personality tests, language, the body, and especially place. There is a nice interplay of interiority and exteriority throughout. In its specificity, the essay becomes universal.

Elena Haase: “A Moonbeam Summoning”

Judges' Note:

The author creates a unique world in this work of fiction with key elements of a story strongly in place: stakes, rising tension, a clear point of view, and good dialogue. The characters are clearly drawn and the suspense builds as we read it.

Elena Haase is a sophomore majoring in Biochemistry/Biophysics. Hailing from Houston, Texas, she loves all things fantasy, sci-fi, and science writing!

Annabelle Eugui: “Legends from Hallow”

Judges' Note:

This set of stories reads like great ancient mythology. The simple yet lovely, lyrical prose transports us into another world; a strong narrative voice engages us and we not only feel for, but also with the archetypal characters.

Annabelle is a Games Simulation Arts and Sciences and Music Dual major. She is from Westchester NY and plans to continue to write for and design games when she graduates.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Dylan Liriano: “Snowblind”

Judges' Note:

“Snowblind” takes the well-worn man vs. nature story and injects it with the urgent predicament of two orphans living in a (possibly) apocalyptic winter. The judges were impressed by this tense, taught story of survival, echoing a long storytelling tradition from Jack London’s White Fang to Isao Takahata’s Graveyard of the Fireflies.

Xiomara Jean-Louis: “Beneath the Baobab Tree"

Judges' Note:

“Beneath the Baobab Tree” recalls the inventive worldbuilding of N.K. Jemisin or Marlon James. It created a rich world—dense with its own unique culture and tinged by fantasy—​in which our judges wanted to fully immerse.

 Matthew Hlady: “Demon of Flowers”

Judges' Note:

This work draws the reader into a fantasy world through vivid description, compelling stakes, and convincing characterization. This chapter introduces Almia, who must decide between wealth in the city as a lone demon priestess, or an impoverished family life in the poor outskirts of her village. This excerpt leaves the reader looking forward to Almia’s adventures while becoming immersed in a world that is dynamically realized.

Matthew Hlady is a Critical Game Design Ph.D. student specializing in player moral psychology and philosophy. His first love, though, is writing fantasy as both escapism and as a foil to real world issues.

Ankit Kumar Upadhyay: “An Imaginary Expedition”

Judges' Note:

Set in Punjab during an Indo-Pakistani war, this chapter draws the reader along a venture across borders, blending real and imaginary, personal and political, naïveté and knowledge. The narrator is a young boy who believes his military father is living a parallel life in an imaginary world. When real violence encroaches, the reader is left wondering how this novel will unfold to shape this young protagonist via its historical, cultural, and narrative crossroads.

Ankit Upadhyay is a Computer Science Ph.D. student in the department of Computer Science. He is from India. His goal is to design and build computational tools using Artificial Intelligence for Ecological Conservation. He is also passionate about reaching the masses with creative writing.

Tim Lund: "Deep Blue"

Judges' Note:

This coming-of-age story is also a coming out story, rendered by a writer with a keen understanding of narrative shape and character development. We admired the tight structure and attention to setting as metaphor in this underwater love story.

Tim Lund (they/them) is a PhD student in Mathematics. Coming from a multicultural Taiwanese-American background, Tim enjoys exploring themes of heritage, identity, and belonging in their creative works.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Shannon Clark: "The Midnight Train"

Judges' Note:

“Midnight Train” is an exceptionally competent story, showcasing the writer’s deft handling of setting, characterization, and metaphor. We were most impressed with the movement toward epiphany at the story's end.

Cliff Watson: "The New Life: A Haibun"

Judges' Note:

This hybrid genre piece is impressive in its ambition to leverage poetry and prose, further hybridizing the haibun, to tell a story of death and rebirth.

Mattaya Gibbs: "Sad Hawaii Bar"

Judges' Note:

This work evokes readers’ senses of sight, sound, and touch through the effective use of sensory details. The author not only engages readers, but transports them to a beautiful music listening tour.

Mattaya Gibbs is a senior Communication, Media, and Design major with a concentration in Professional Writing. She is originally from southeast Kansas. Her second-favorite aquatic animal is a sea turtle. After graduation, she is going into book publishing.

Hannah Nardini: "The Moral Dilemma of The Space Race"

Judges' Note:

The subject of this essay is space exploration, integrating both insights and methodologies from humanities and science, it thoroughly engages readers in the discussion about the necessity and moral dilemma of its subject.

Hannah Nardini is a Chemical Engineering major. She is from Virginia and can often be found crocheting or reading. 

E. Camila Kulahlioglu: "Effective Altruism"

Judges' Note:

This paper is well theorized with relevant concepts. The author also provided operational guidance and ethical considerations to professionals who work for non-profit organizations in the business world.

E. Camila Kulahlioglu is a first year ITWS major from New York City. She is interested in studying data science, specifically computational biology as she is passionate about environmental sustainability and impact. In her free time, she likes to read, and is especially interested in the STS field. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Kodi Ezegbo: “We Need Freedom Too:” How Lemonade and To Pimp A Butterfly Shine a Light on the Depiction of Black Trauma Through Art

Amani Dinar: “Encanto’s Enchantment"

Judges' Note:

The two essays collectively illuminate the transformative power of narrative and music in challenging societal norms and generational trauma, spotlighting the creative and critical engagement with cultural, racial, and personal identity in contemporary media.

Hans Tursack: "Spectral Ruins"

Judges' Note:

Expanding existing ecological approaches to human and non-human life and vitality, this essay offers a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of “an aesthetic language of dead matter brought to life.” The author develops a theory of “spectral ruins,” which artfully troubles the neat binaries between life and death through the concepts of entropy and decay. Through a series of intricate case studies, the essay ultimately offers promising avenues for future research by demonstrating how creative digital simulations “make subjects strange again,” which can generate discomfort within viewers, prodding them to interrogate their own obligations as cultural agents.

Hans Tursack is a PhD student in Electronic Arts. He is an artist/architect from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Gwen Moyer: "The Trade"

Judges' Note:

Beautifully executed, this short side-scrolling animation keeps pace with an illustrated fox as it traipses across an unfolding landscape encountering metamorphosing crows. The piece constantly surprises and keeps our eyes searching the frame; it pays off, revealing a surprise ending. We found it aesthetically coherent and compelling.

Gwen Moyer is a GSAS and electronic arts dual major from Massachusetts. Her artwork and poetry centers around life, death, and the natural world. 

Emily Huyhua: "Within Boundaries"

Judges' Note:

This piece uses poetry to cleverly weave together color theory, design and text, grounding the theme, “Boundaries” in this engaging verbal-visual book.

Emily Huyhua is an electronic arts major. She is from Stamford, CT. She plans on pursuing a career in audio engineering and music production.

Noah Joseph Arzoumanian: “Dreaming of Crows"

Judges' Note:

The craft-like aesthetic of this piece and the syncopated-timings of the motion type enhanced the charm of this song-like poem.

Jason Choi: “Hello. hEllo! heLLo? hellO”

Judges' Note:

The relationship of text, textures and context becomes progressively richer through the visual representation and repetition of a single word in multiple languages, in motion and accompanied by a shifting soundtrack in which we envision multiple universes saying hello. This recorded installation confronts us with a wall of language that is at once welcoming–literally composed of greetings in numerous languages–and at the same time hauntingly foreboding–a constantly shifting set of green symbols in the dark.

Jaehoon (Jason) Choi is a computer musician/sound artist/researcher based in New York and Seoul. He is a third year Ph.D. student in Electronic Arts. 

Cliff Watson: “Endings”

Judges' Note:

This assemblage-style piece cleverly combines anachronistic and contemporary idioms into an ambiguous suggestion of a parodic romantic comedy. The collaged visuals and dissolving text beautifully paced the story. Subtle motions in the seemingly static visual elements commented on the unfolding narrative, while the sound complemented the story, taking cues from silent films.

Cliff Watson is a second year PhD student in Communication and Rhetoric. His research interests include cross-media narratives, performance, and imagination.

Allie ES Wist: “A Strange Loop is Weirdly Weird”

Judges' Note:

The opening shot of the fountain spraying water, synchronizing with the reverberating gong, set up the pacing for this piece. Commenting on the difficulties of human awareness of climate change, this video puts into dissonant dialogue three elements – visual, aural, and textual – capturing the uncanny relationships between them across time. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Justin Buergi: “One Step Further"

Judges' Note:

At once clever and transparent, this visually endearing concept-as-game captures the spirit of the myth of Sisyphus through an intentionally awkward interface and a frustratingly unachievable-seeming goal.

Ahnalese Pearson: “Liberation of Eve"

Judges' Note:

This highly original series of creative-nonfiction essays engages in both cultural criticism and personal reflection to interrogate patriarchy through the persistence of religious values in secular American culture. The author never takes the easy route in critiquing power, and draws inspiration from both fictional and real-life women who have embraced the values maligned as the Seven Deadly sins and recuperated them as liberating forces. 

Ahnalese Pearson is a Communication, Media, and Design major. She plans on teaching until she gets her Masters in Library Science to become a school library media specialist.

Neha Thurai: “Little Bird"

Judges' Note:

This essay evokes the experience of being a second-generation immigrant, navigating micro (and macro) aggressions and pressures to assimilate, normalize, and perform one’s own cultural subordination. It illustrates these tensions through a scene about familial history, expectations, hope, and fear of disappointment. This vividly brings macro-level power dynamics into the everyday moments where they are grappled with and resisted. Neha Thurai is a major in Biology with a minor in Literature. She is from Massachusetts. She is pre-law and planning to enroll in law school following graduation.

Neha Thurai is a major in Biology with a minor in Literature. She is from Massachusetts. She is pre-law and planning to enroll in law school following graduation.

Nia Madeline Heermance: “Bad Clothes”

Judges' Note:

This short story engages the reader in the protagonist’s experience of gender dysphoria and the social and affective processes of becoming oneself in the world when one is categorized otherwise. The author deftly plays with temporality to take readers between moments of resistance to and discipline for non-normative behavior. At its center, the work grapples with the tension between externality and internality: self-doubt meets small moments of social recognition and affirmation, which slowly take the form of self-recognition and flourishing.

Nia Heermance is a Mathematics and Music dual major with three classes in Creative Writing. She loves exploring the complexities both in logic but also in our lives around us. Currently, she hopes to work as a mathematics teacher, while composing and writing in her free time.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Nyah Philip: “These Strange Birds”

Judges' Note:

Articulated through Palestinian children in Gaza, this poem vividly depicts the intertwined ecological and humanitarian tragedies of total war and constant aerial bombardment, the cause of diminishing hope for a future without the constant interruption of “these strange birds.”