NE Emerging Writers and Artists Contest

2025–2026 NE Emerging Writers and Artists

CONTEST WINNERS

From the Sandhills to the great Platte River, one of the hidden treasures of Nebraska is its natural landscape, flora, and fauna. For this year’s theme, high school students considered memories and experiences they’ve had with Nebraska’s natural world — or chose a unique piece of nature they feel deserves to have its story told.

WRITERS

Essay

First Place
Arabella Durr
Parkview Christian
“What an Honor to Spend it with You”

Runner-Up
Caleb Black
Exeter-Milligan-Friend
“An Encounter with the Sublime”

Honorable Mention
Lydia Turner
Parkview Christian
“Memories of a Nebraska Born Child”

Short Story

First Place
Madeline Wallace
Omaha Marian High School
“Kara’s Walk”

Runner-Up
Ian Crockett
Creighton Community School
“Nayeli: One with Nebraskan Nature”

Honorable Mention
Hana Butters
Grand Island Senior High School
“The Farm to the River”

Poetry

First Place
Abigail Just
Millard South High School
“The Good ‘Ole Red, White, and Blue”

Runner-Up
Kylie Kumpf
Hemingford High School
“Her Song”

Honorable Mention
Brynley Thompson
Omaha Marian High School
“Spring”

ARTISTS

WINNER

a colorful painting of a bison in the style of Takashi Murakami

JESUS ROCHA
Buffalo Bloom
Gibbon High School

RUNNER-UP

A sculpture of a bald eagle with a fish in its talons with a wood base

ADDIE GIBBONS
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Ansley High School

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Naomi Gahan
Prairie Passage
Oakland-Craig Public Schools

Echo Hansen
Sterling Skies
Ashland-Greenwood

Bayla Rodriguez
The Crane
Gibbon High School

Joey Gibbons
Rainbow Trout
Ansley High School

Kyle Horn
Busted!
Fullerton High School

Kiersten Hans
The Evacuation of Tranquility
Wynot Public Schools

Caleb Raulston
Nostalgic Corn
Wayne Jr./Sr. High