2021 Writing Contest Winners
Congratulations to the 2021 Essay, Short Story and Poetry Contest Winners!
The winning essays, short stories and poems will be published on our website after the 2021 Local Writer’s Showcase.
Please check out recorded readings by some of the 2020 winners here.

Essay Winners
Sarah Wang, Potomac, MD, 1st Place
Cynthia Mamalian, Potomac, MD, 2nd Place
Tia Xia, Bethesda, MD, 3rd Place
Sarah Birnbach, Rockville, MD, Honorable Mention
Rebekah Richards, Washington, D.C., Honorable Mention
High School Essay Winners
Leo Kalb Bourke, Walter Johnson HS, 1st Place
Grace McGuire, Walt Whitman HS, 2nd Place
Armaan Salchak, Wootton HS, 3rd Place
Jaylen Panjehshahi, Quince Orchard HS, Honorable Mention
Hannah Stearns, Wootton HS, Honorable Mention
Alexander Toti, Montgomery Blair HS, Honorable Mention
Short Story Winners
Kathleen Wheaton, Bethesda, MD, 1st Place
Matthew Kelly, Rockville, MD, 2nd Place
A. Jo Proctor, Chevy Chase, MD, Honorable Mention
Cliff Gale, Brookeville, MD, Honorable Mention
Nancy Hanlon, Silver Spring, MD, Honorable Mention
Briana Maley, Takoma Park, MD, Honorable Mention
High School Short Story Winners
Jillian Vordick, Walter Johnson HS, 1st Place
Rashmi Kanipakala, Wootton HS, 2nd Place
Esme Pickel, Richard Montgomery HS, 3rd Place
A. Wang, Wootten HS, Honorable Mention
Samantha Mouyard, Walter Johnson HS, Honorable Mention

Poetry Winners
Kathryn Bratt-Pfotenhauer, Montgomery Village, MD, 1st Place
Taylor Gaskins, Washington, D.C., 2nd Place
Eric Forsbergh, Leesburg, VA, 3rd Place
Sean O'Neill, Washington, D.C., Honorable Mention
Anthony Phan, Derwood, MD, Honorable Mention
Terri Merz, Bethesda, MD, Honorable Mention
High School Poetry Winners
Tara Davoodi,Walt Whitman HS, Young PoetNicole Fang,Richard Montgomery HS, Young Poet
Sabrina Mei, Richard Montgomery HS, Young Poet
Elizabeth Schmeissner, Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS, Young Poet
Leila Jackson, Georgetown Day School, Young Poet