Two CMU creative writing students win national award and acclaim

Central Michigan University students made history this year winning both of the national poetry prizes awarded through the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). Sara Daniels and Weston Wise, both English majors and Creative Writing Certificate students, received the news in late March.

NFSPS has sponsored the College Undergraduate Poetry Competition awarding two prizes to undergraduate students annually for more than 25 years.

“This is the first time that both winning manuscripts in the same year are from students at the same college/university,” said Paul Ford, NFSPS President, “CMU's English department, I am sure, will be very happy to announce their wins.”

Daniels and Wise each submitted a poetry manuscript for the competition and will receive a $500 cash prize, publication of their chapbook, 75 copies of the publication, complimentary membership to NFSPS, and a travel stipend to Des Moines, Iowa, this June, to read their winning work.

Daniels praised CMU’s literary community and says she remembers dreaming about publishing a book as a child.

“I’m really grateful to work with CMU’s world-class creative writing professors who support students in pursuing opportunities such as this,” Daniels said. “CMU’s creative writing program is the best writing community I’ve ever been a part of. Every professor and student I’ve encountered has been so supportive of each other, so welcoming, insightful and passionate.”

Wise says CMU’s Creative Writing program gave him newfound confidence in experimentation and revision.

“These skills have helped me to develop strategies for the inspiration, production and refinement of my writing,” Wise said. “I’m hopeful this represents the next step in a larger journey for me as a writer.”

For both of these young writers, the journey is off to a great start.