Winners of HPU's 2026 Great 808 Undergraduate Writing Awards.
The English Department is pleased to announce the three winners of HPU’s 2026 undergraduate writing contests. All submissions are 808 words or less, in one of three categories: poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. This year’s winners were chosen by guest judge Shay Kauwe—HPU alum and author of The Killing Spell.
“I Come From A Place” by Reagan Stroud wins the James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry. According to the judge: “I Come From A Place is a testament to the importance of the quiet moments that build a community. The poet’s vivid portrayal of place is seen in every, small detail: cocoa butter, gym shoes, and the ache of a comb. By the last stanza, their longing for home becomes a shout: a declaration of love and remembrance.”
“Tales From A Teenage Cannibal” by Sam Longley wins the Mark David Bauer Award for Fiction. According to the judge: “‘Tales from a Teenage Cannibal’ is visceral and gripping. The way the author is able to sit in the uncomfortable, rationalizing each choice, helps readers to digest each line, while still leaving them wanting more. Hunger is at the heart of this story, and it is made sharp-toothed through vivid descriptions that choose to linger on the feeling of its ache, rather than circumstances that have led them there.”
“Caldo” by Ayiana Enriquez wins the Andrew Opitz Award for Nonfiction. According to the judge: “‘Caldo’ took me by surprise in the best possible way! It flips on its head the trope of food as care, and instead explores the unspoken expectations that parents hold for their children. Lyrical and moving, the story moves you alongside the author on their journey from confusion to acceptance. Take a spoonful of Caldo and decide for yourself if this family recipe is a cure-all or a generational curse.”
