# High School Writing Competition

**<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2026 WINNERS</span>**

**<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>**

##### **<span lang="EN">ESSAY</span>**

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Allison Stanley,</span>**<span lang="EN"> [“’Things Fall Apart’: Rhetorical Analysis.”](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2459) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Jade Johnson, </span>**<span lang="EN">["Drinking the Kool-Aid."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2460) Teacher: Nicole LaCount, Jonesboro High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Tyler Eaton,</span>**<span lang="EN"> ["Sexual Education in the Academic Environment."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2461) Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham, Paragould High School.</span>

**<span lang="EN">HONORABLE MENTION:</span>**<span lang="EN"> Cameron Russell, ["Reaching New Growth with the Beatles."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2462) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

**<span lang="EN">HONORABLE MENTION:</span>**<span lang="EN"> Abigail Merila, ["Diseases I Have Known."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2463) Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham, Paragould High School.</span>

**<span lang="EN">HONORABLE MENTION:</span>**<span lang="EN"> Evie Mixon, ["Fighting a Bear."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2464) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

##### **<span lang="EN">CREATIVE NON-FICTION</span>**

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Addyson H. Groetsch,</span>**<span lang="EN"> ["Nile of Doubt."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2465) Teacher: Dr. Jessica Seat, Batesville High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Charlee Simpson,</span>**<span lang="EN"> ["The Day I Chose Peace."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2466) Teacher: Nicole LaCount, Jonesboro High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Scarlet Jacks,</span>**<span lang="EN"> ["Action!"](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2467) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

**<span lang="EN">HONORABLE MENTION:</span>**<span lang="EN"> Keira Guerrero,["What Music Speaks to Me."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2468) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

##### **<span lang="EN">FICTION</span>**

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Madilyn Smith,</span>**<span lang="EN"> ["The Destruction You Bring."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2469) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Kyler Williams,</span>**<span lang="EN"> [The Case of the Muppet Murder."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2470) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Cesar Canizales</span>**<span lang="EN">, ["The Sisyphus Conundrum."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2471) Teacher: Nicole LaCount, Jonesboro High School.</span>

##### **<span lang="EN">POETRY</span>**

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Brynlee Rabah,</span>**<span lang="EN"> ["An Unwritten Path."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2472) Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham, Paragould High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Zariah Williams,</span>**<span lang="EN"> ["Something Familiar."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2473) Teacher: Meredith Baine, Jonesboro High School.</span>

<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>**<span lang="EN">Isaac Pearson</span>**<span lang="EN">, ["Acrophobia."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2474) Teacher: Kelli Rollins-Stidham, Paragould High School.</span>

**<span lang="EN">HONORABLE MENTION:</span>**<span lang="EN"> Charlee Simpson, ["Never Look My Way."](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2476) Teacher: Nicole LaCount, Jonesboro High School.</span>

**<span lang="EN">HONORABLE MENTION:</span>**<span lang="EN"> Allison Tate, ["A Spring Once Remembered"](https://kb.astate.edu/attachments/2475) Teacher: Dr. Jessica Seat, Batesville High School. </span>

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