Five students from Orange County schools won $1000 each for their writings in the upcoming anthology, The Storm Inside. The students were invited to submit to the anthology works regarding the topics of extreme weather and inequality. While many students will be getting their entries published, these five winners received a cash prize by Lamar University Literary Press’s partner, Ancient to the Future ( https://ancienttothefuture.org/ ), represented by its executive director, Kate Williams.
Each of the winners were recognized at the award ceremony and were able to read excerpts from their winning submissions.
Allison Harmon, a graduate student in Lamar University’s English Master’s program, introduced the winners and said, “I believe this project truly showcases the voices of our region’s young writers—the Orange County High School Student Anthology. This anthology brings together original works from students at all five Orange County high schools, exploring themes that matter deeply to our communities: extreme weather, its impact on daily life, and the inequalities that these events can reveal and amplify. The students’ submissions range from poetry and essays to personal stories and short stories—all reflecting their unique experiences and perspectives.”
The winning students are:
Orangefield: Takota Burnett – “No New Beginnings”
Vidor: Claire Fawcett – “No One Came, So I Did”
West Orange: Kelsey Matlage – “As I Look Around”
Little Cypress-Mauriceville: Logan Odom – “The Dividing Eye”
Bridge City: Whitney Cunningham – Untitled
Cunningham was unable to attend.
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