Contest Winners Recognized at MECC Festival

Writers and poets were recently recognized for work they submitted to the annual Lonesome Pine Short Story and Lonesome Pine Poetry Contests.  The contests were held in conjunction with the 30th Annual John Fox, Jr. Festival, held at Mountain Empire Community College and funded by the MECC Foundation's Cultural and Humanities Series Committee. 

"We are trying to inspire and encourage new writers with these contests," stated Donna Stanley, MECC Vice-President for Institutional Advancement.  There were 157 entries to the competitions.  The short story contest was sponsored by Lonesome Pine Arts and Crafts, Inc., while the poetry contest was sponsored by the MECC Foundation.

Lonesome Pine Arts and Crafts representative Tabitha Peace announced the winners for each age group in the short story contest.  In the adult category, Appalachia's Sarah Mullins-Spears won first place for "The Political Implications of a Possum in an Election Year".  Stephanie Cassell of Norton placed second, while Pamela Bates from Coeburn placed third. 

For the high school category, Emily Tucker from Norton received first place for her short story, "Overcoming the Odds".  Pound's Stephanie Hall placed second and Pennington Gap's Rene Seals placed third.  In the middle school division, Elizabeth Hill of Norton was the first place winner for "The Magic Berries".  Dakota McQueen from Jonesville received second place, while Melanie Wright from Pound received third.

Stanley announced the winners for the Lonesome Pine Poetry Contest.  The adult category winner was Big Stone Gap's James E. Ryan for his poem, "The Storm".  Second place was Lisa M. Jones from Norton and third place was D.A. Taylor from Pound.

In the high school division, Keokee's Ryan Massingill received first place for "Graduation Day 2006".  Christa Hill from Norton won second place and Stephanie Hall from Pound won third.  For the middle school category, Wise's Olivia Brooks received first place for "You're Not Like Him".  Melanie Wright and Austin Sturgill, both from Pound, placed second and third respectively.

Award winners and others in attendance at the festival were treated to presentations by authors Sharon Hatfield and Pamela Duncan.  A luncheon with the authors followed and was held at the John Fox, Jr. Museum in Big Stone Gap.

Lonesome Pine Short Story and Poetry Contest winners gather for a photograph at the 30th Annual John Fox, Jr. Festival held at MECC. 

(Front row, left to right) Christa Hill, Austin Sturgill, Melanie Wright, Stephanie Hall, Dakota McQueen, and Olivia Brooks

(Back row, left to right) Emily Tucker, Ryan Massingill, Sarah Mullins-Spears, James E. Ryan, Pamela Bates, Elizabeth Hill, and Stephanie Cassell

More Press Releases