Wainright Foundation presents public reading from Vi Khi Nao, announces scholarships
The Wainright Foundation at the University of North Florida will present a public book reading by poet, novelist and playwright Vi Khi Nao at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at the UNF Gallery of Art.
The Wainright Endowment supports undergraduate creative writing students at UNF by activities including sponsoring the annual public author reading and private masterclass for students, as well as the Wainright Scholarship Awards for Creative Writing. The endowment was created by the family of Amy Wainright to honor the memory of the late beloved English instructor.
The scholarship awards are judged by a panel and presented in four categories: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and scriptwriting. Winners and runners-up are chosen and invited to attend the masterclass. Winners receive $1,000 each and a broadside featuring an excerpt from each their winning works, designed by Michael Boyles, and posted on campus. Runners-up receive $500.
The Wainright Scholarship Awards for Creative Writing will be acknowledged at the Wainright Award Celebration on Tuesday, April 19, in the UNF Gallery of Art. This event will be immediately followed by an open mic hosted by the Talon Review, UNF’s student-run literary journal.
The winners and runners up for the 2021-22 Wainright Scholarship Awards for Creative Writing are:
Fiction
Winner: “Thought Experiment” by Megha Mohan
Runner-up: “Our Father” by Alexis Wilson
Runner-up: “Dear Mr. Wattson” by Ellizabeth Divine
Creative Nonfiction
Winner: “Purple Scars” by Rumooz Al Ghanim
Runner-up: “The Theory of a Suicidealist” by “Toree” Dobson
Poetry
Winner: "you must've gone back to south florida" and "we exist; even if" by Nicole Knorr
Runner-up: “Ode to the Belly Button” by Alexis Wilson
Script
Winner: “You Can’t Save Me” by Samy El-Kamel
Runner-up: “Monsters without Masks” by Jody Ward