University of Southern Mississippi undergraduate writers dominated the creative writing categories at the Southern Literary Festival April 16-18 at Millsaps College in Jackson, taking home first place in one-act play, first place in short story and two Honorable Mention awards in poetry writing.

The Southern Literary Festival, which comprises three days of lectures, readings and workshops in creative writing, holds writing contests among students from 30 colleges and universities in the region.  Results were announced at the end of the festival.

“We’re very proud to have our students’ talents recognized on a larger stage,” said Steven Barthelme, professor of English in the Center for Writers at Southern Miss.  “And, we’re also pleased with the recognition of the program and the university.”  The Center for Writers is the nationally ranked creative writing program in English Department. 

Charles McCaa of Port Gibson placed first in the short story competition for his story “Theater.”  He will join the graduate program at Southern Miss in creative writing in the fall.
 
Senior Bradley Warshauer of Picayune won first place for his one-act play “Barker’s,” in which one of the actual characters is an all-night diner that speaks.  The play was originally written in an advanced fiction workshop as a short story. Warshauer then reinvented it as a play, taking advantage of its obvious theatrical qualities.
 
The poets recognized with Honorable Mention awards were Samantha Nix of Clinton and Lillian Taylor Randall of Pensacola, Fla.
 
This year’s winners continue a long line of Southern Miss undergraduate writers who have earned awards at the Festival and often gone on to top-rated graduate writing programs across the country, including the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University and other distinguished schools. 

The Southern Miss’ own graduate program has produced a number of highly regarded young writers, including James Kimbrell, author of two books of poetry and winner of a Whiting Writers’ Award, who was a featured writer at this year’s Festival.

“We always have many talented people, at both the graduate and the undergraduate levels,” Barthelme said.   Outside recognition and honors, he noted, also help young writers maintain their often-fragile confidence.  “Finally, confidence is as essential as talent,” he said.

For more information on the Center for Writers, call 601.266.5600 or online at http://centerforwriters.com.

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss, with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.