We invite you to submit a paper for the annual Montserrat Writing Prize. The committee, composed of the director and cluster directors of Montserrat, will award $300 each to three students for papers written in their Montserrat seminars this academic year. The competition is open to students currently enrolled in Montserrat and all students may only submit one paper.
We encourage you to look back at the work that you have written or are currently working on and choose your favorite piece of writing. Submissions may include critical essays, creative writing, film reviews, scientific reports, and reflections, to name a few. Your entry may be a revision of what you have submitted in your seminar (e.g., you may make changes based on your professor’s comments or workshop feedback). Your submission should be at least 500 words.
The submission deadline is in March every year. We are thankful to an anonymous donor for the funds to support the prize. Questions should be addressed to Pr. Alison Ludden (aludden@holycross.edu), director of Montserrat.
Spring 2023
4th Annual Montserrat Writing Prize Winners
Lauren Harkins
Seeing Beneath the Surface: Using Critical Race Theory to Uncover Racial Inequities in the U.S. Public School System
Montserrat Seminar: The Good Student
Professor Danielle Poché, Contemporary Challenges Cluster
Evan Garcia
In a State of Nervous Conditions: Gender Relations in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Groundbreaking Novel
Montserrat Seminar: Africa & the Other
Professor Munya Munochiveyi, Global Society Cluster
Ignacio Sánchez Ramos
Mítos Boricuas
Montserrat Seminar: Foundation and Crisis
Professor Daniel Armenti, Core Human Questions Cluster
Spring 2022
3rd Annual Montserrat Writing Prize Winners
Grace Conroy
Emotional Geographies: Head, Heart, Time Place
Montserrat Seminar: The Social Life of Feelings
Professor Jennie Germann Molz, Contemporary Challenges Cluster
Sarah Park
Roman Diary
Montserrat Seminar: CityScapes, Near & Far
Professor Noa Shaindlinger, Global Society Cluster
Catherine Pellini
Need for Reform - The Prison System and Deaf Inmates
Montserrat Seminar: Exploring Difference
Professors Virginia Ryan and Isabelle Jenkins, Divine Cluster
Spring 2021
2nd Annual Montserrat Writing Prize Winners
Annabel Degroat
Mamfakinch
Montserrat Seminar: Social Lives of Muslim Youths
Professor Vickie Langohr, Contemporary Challenges Cluster
Fernanda Perez-Alvarez
The Phoenix
Montserrat Seminar: Building Fantastic Beasts
Professor Julia Paxson, Natural World Cluster
Sarah Synan
Sundae
Montserrat Seminar: Stories of Self
Professor Leah Hager Cohen, Self Cluster
Spring 2020
1st Annual Montserrat Writing Prize Winners
Max Caron
See, Judge, Act: Restorative Justice and Catholic Social Teaching’s Impact on American Incarceration
Montserrat Seminar: Identity, Diversity and Community
Professor Virginia Ryan, Divine Cluster
Henry Cavanaugh
Of Moose and Men (and Moose-Men)
Montserrat Seminar: Writing/Reading Place
Professor Stephanie Reents, Natural World Cluster
Alexandra Sawasciuk
Human Nature in the Natural World
Montserrat Seminar: Naturally Unnatural
Professor Teresa Fenichel, Natural World Cluster