Hastings College honors 53 young writers with Nebraska Scholastic Writing Awards
(Hastings, Nebraska) – Hastings College recognized 53 of Nebraska’s most talented young writers during an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 2. As the state’s affiliate for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the College held an afternoon of workshops and celebrations for students, parents and educators.
Of the honorees, 11 students earned Gold Key awards, advancing their work to the national competition. Notably, Emma Baldeh of Dundy County Stratton High School (Benkelman) earned a National Gold Medal for her story, "The Best Companion," placing her among the top young writers in the country.
Additionally, one Nebraska student, Alexa Warner of Minden, received a nomination for the American Voices Award, which celebrates unique and authentic literary voices.
The 11 Gold Key and 51 Silver Key entries were also published by Hastings College Press in a book titled “Best Nebraska Teen Writing 2026.” Students received a copy of the book, as well as certificates, scholarships and other items during the awards ceremony.
The afternoon featured three rotating workshop sessions led by Hastings College faculty and special guests, including Nebraska State Poet Emeritus Matt Mason.
Sessions covered a range of topics from "Reading in Public" with Tina Ellison, academic support specialist, and poetry with Mason. While students honed their craft, parents and educators met with Dr. Patricia Oman and college staff to discuss book design and strategies for supporting young writers.
Dr. Pedro J. Vizoso, Hastings College professor of Spanish, managed the program this year.
Students receiving awards are listed alphabetically below.
-Rohan Abrams, Flash Fiction: Silver Key
-Buschra Alchalabi, Brownell Talbot School (Omaha), Poetry: Honorable Mention
-Charlie Allen, Auburn High School (Omaha), Novel Writing: Honorable Mention
-Emma Baldeh, Dundy County Stratton High School (Benkelman), Speculative Fiction: Gold Key, National Gold Key
-Maria-Ageliki Bernitsas, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart (Omaha), Short Story: Silver Key
-Victoria Bogatz, Bellevue East Senior High School (Bellevue), Senior Portfolio: Silver Key
-Gabrielle Burns, Millard North High School (Omaha), Poetry: two Silver Keys
-Melaney Burt, Novel Writing: Honorable Mention
-Hana Butters, Grand Island Senior High School (Grand Island), Short Story: Gold Key
-Natalie Cautrell, Windside High School (Windside), Senior Portfolio: Silver Key, Honorable Mention
-Daisy Cisneros Mondragon, Doniphan-Trumbull High School (Doniphan), Poetry: Silver Key
-Lillian Coleman, Papillion-La Vista High School (Papillion), Critical Essays: Honorable Mention
-Zoey Coontz, Ft. Calhoun Junior-Senior High School (Fort Calhoun), Novel Writing: Honorable Mention
-Raven Cranny, Millard South High School (Omaha), Poetry: four Silver Keys; Senior Portfolio: Gold Key
-Madalyn Croteau, Bellevue West Senior High School (Bellevue), Poetry: three Silver Keys, two Honorable Mentions
-Arabella Durr, Parkview Christian School (Lincoln), Critical Essay: Silver Key
-Zoe Eberspacher of Fremont, Novel Writing: Honorable Mention
-Megan Feng, Millard North High School (Omaha), Poetry: Honorable Mention; Personal Essay & Memoir: Silver Key
-Katherine Franke, Millard North High School (Omaha), Speculative Fiction: Honorable Mention; Flash Fiction: Silver Key; Novel Writing: Silver Key; Poetry: Silver Key, Honorable Mention; Senior Portfolio: Gold Key
-Emmalina Gutierrez, Millard South High School (Omaha), Poetry: Honorable Mention
-Echo Hansen, Ashland Greenwood Senior High School (Ashland), Poetry: Honorable Mention
-Sarah Heng, home school, Critical Essay: Honorable Mention
-Connor Holmstedt, Fort Calhoun Junior/Senior High School (Fort Calhoun), Poetry: two Silver Keys, six Honorable Mentions
-Chesney Horton, Parkview Christian School (Lincoln), Critical Essay: Honorable Mention; Personal Essay & Memoir: Honorable Mention
-Nadia Jeyaram, Brownell Talbot School (Omaha), Poetry: Honorable Mention; Journalism: Gold Key, Silver Key
-Annika Johnson, Millard North High School (Omaha), Senior Portfolio: Silver Key
-Adrishya Kumar, Brownell Talbot School (Omaha), Poetry: four Silver Keys, Honorable Mention; Personal Essay & Memoir, two Gold Keys, Silver Key
-Sullivan Kuper, Millard West High School (Omaha), Speculative Fiction: Silver Key; Flash Fiction: Honorable Mention; Short Story: Silver Key; Novel Writing: Silver Key; Poetry: Honorable Mention
-Brian Lawrence, Parkview Christian School (Lincoln), Critical Essay: Gold Key
-Athiei Majuec, Bellevue West Senior High School (Bellevue), Poetry: two Silver Keys, Honorable Mention
-Molly Monaghan-Besch, Yutan Junior Senior High School (Yutan), Personal Essay & Memoir: Silver Key
-Daniela Monzalvo Tolentino, Grand Island Senior High School (Grand Island), Personal Essay & Memoir: Gold Key
-Katelyn Omer, Millard North High School (Omaha), Poetry: Gold Key, Honorable Mention
-Isabella Parmeley, Grand Island Senior High School (Grand Island), Poetry: Silver Key, Honorable Mention; Senior Portfolio: Silver Key
-Kathleen Parmeley, Lincoln Northwest High School (Lincoln), Personal essay & Memoir: Honorable Mention
-Claire Pogge, Marian High School (Omaha), Poetry: Honorable Mention
-Camdyn Pruett, Millard West High School (Omaha), Poetry: Honorable Mention; Senior Portfolio: Silver Key
-Saige Pruett, Millard West High School (Omaha), Speculative Fiction: Silver Key; Poetry: Honorable Mention
-Gracyn Rasmussen, Standing Bear High School (Lincoln), Poetry: Silver Key
-Charlotte Sanio, home school (Lincoln), Speculative Fiction: two Honorable Mentions; Poetry: Honorable Mention
-Natalia Schmidt, Parkview Christian School (Lincoln), Critical Essay; Honorable Mention
-Ashmiza Shaik, Millard North High School (Omaha), Journalism: Gold Key
-Mackenzie Simpson, Ft. Calhoun Junior/Senior High School (Fort Calhoun), Speculative Fiction: Honorable Mention
-Beau Thomas, Auburn High School (Auburn), Short Story: Honorable Mention; Poetry: Silver Key
-Sophia Timm, Short Story: Honorable Mention
-Aiden Tinkham, Ft. Calhoun Junior/Senior High School (Fort Calhoun), Short Story: Honorable Mention
-Gage Townsend, Kearney High School (Kearney), Speculative Fiction: Silver Key, Honorable Mention; Flash Fiction: two Honorable Mentions; Poetry: Silver Key, three Honorable Mentions; Personal Essay & Memoir: Honorable Mention
-Quynh Huong Truong, Parkview Christian School (Lincoln), Critical Essay: Honorable Mention
-Lydia Turner, Parkview Christian School (Lincoln), Novel Writing: two Honorable Mentions; Poetry: six Silver Keys, nine Honorable Mentions; Critical Essay: Honorable Mention; Personal Essay & Memoir: Silver Key
-Daniel Vanourney, Westside High School (Omaha), Journalism: three Silver Keys, 10 Honorable Mentions
-Annah Vogelpohl, Burke High School (Omaha), Speculative Fiction: Silver Key, Honorable Mention
-Alexa Warner, home school (Minden), Poetry: Gold Key, American Voices
-Kebra Willis, Ft. Calhoun Junior/Senior High School (Fort Calhoun), Short Story: Honorable Mention
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Founded in 1882, the College is dedicated to student success and service to the community. Discover more at www.hastings.edu.