In Spring 2020, COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019, shut down our society and normal routines as people harbored in their homes to avoid the contagious virus. Many people turned to creative outlets as a stress relief and to fill extra free time. For the 2021 edition, The Crowder Quill art and literary magazine and the Crowder Theatre Department collaborated on a special project in which Covid-themed entries were considered for both the publication and stage performance. Themed entries were accepted in any of the publication categories of writing, photography, or art. In addition to the opportunity for placement in the magazine, the Theatre Department selected entries to be performed on stage April 22-23. The performance was called “Masks and Music: Stories from Quarantine.” Art selections depicting the theme were displayed digitally during the performance as well. Quill entries focused on the theme of Covid-19, the pandemic, quarantine, and other related current events and social issues are as follows:

Leandra Toomoth, “First Snow of the Season: COVID edition,” Poetry, Anderson, Community
Nayelys Colon Lopez, “Dear Covid-19,” Poetry, Springdale, Ark., Community
Corina Rodriguez, “Not Gone…,” Poetry, Monett, Community
Vicki Turner, “Grit,” Poetry, Carterville, Community
Billie Holladay Skelley, “Because of COVID,” Poetry, Joplin, Community
Billie Holladay Skelley, “The 2020 Pandemic, “Poetry, Joplin, Community
Billie Holladay Skelley, “Life in the Coronavirus Pandemic,” Poetry, Joplin, Community
Sarah Nicole Jones, “Empty Shelves,” Poetry, Joplin, Quill Staff
Sierra Wilson, “Quarantine,” Poetry, Anderson, Community
Autumn Reeves, “Where I’m From,” Poetry, Neosho High School
Annie Lisenby Smith, “Choices,” Nonfiction, Monett, Community
Zoe Love, “Covid Schools on the Dew Cast,” Nonfiction, Neosho High School
Jaclin Fenski, “Quarantine Surprise,” Nonfiction, Purdy High School
Jake Brown, “A Beneficial Break,” Nonfiction, Purdy High School
Leandra Toomoth, “20 Things 2020 Gave Me,” Nonfiction, Anderson, Community
Lauren Schallert, “Rona Ruined My Life,” Nonfiction, Purdy High School
Dora Gilreath, “You Can Never Leave,” Fiction, Neosho, Quill Staff
Casandra Jordan, “A Teddy Bear for Christmas,” Fiction, Neosho, Community
Margarite Stever, “Clean Heist,” Fiction, Webb City, Community
Billie Holladay Skelley, “Our New Normal,” Fiction, Joplin, Community * Special Merit for best Covid entry
Kayla Reese, “Breakfast,” Fiction, Noel, Community
Glory Reitz, “Adventure Calls,” Digital Art Neosho, Crowder
Leandra Toomoth, “Park Bench,” Color Photography, Anderson, Community
Latonia Bailey, “Social Distancing,” Color Photography, Neosho, Quill Staff Adviser
Brianna White, “Apple of My Eye,” Color Photography, McDonald County High School
Brianna White, “Dangers Near,” Color Photography, McDonald County High School
Jennifer Conner, “Gulping His Greens,” Color Photography, Pierce City, Community
Justice Atchison, “Today’s Reality,” Color Photography, Diamond, Joplin High School
Annie Smith, “COVID Kids,” Color Photography, Monett, Community
Braden Bare, “Quarantine,” B&W Photography, Joplin, Community
Nona Stewart, “Trapped,” B&W Photography, Neosho, Quill Staff
Madeline Brown, “Societies Pandemic,” B&W Photography, Neosho High School
Jennifer Conner, “Chinchilla Love,” B&W Photography, Pierce City, Community
Kayla M. Branstetter, “Final Goodbye,” B&W Photography, Purdy, Community
Brianna White, “Thoughts,” B&W Photography, McDonald County High School
Brianna White, “Time to Make History,” B&W Photography, McDonald County High School
Dayton Doran, “12 Years,” 3D Art, Joplin High School
Ana-Kaye Vanglider, “The Mask of Death and Commerce,” 3D Art, Carl Junction High School
Dayton Doran, “Faith,” 3D Art, Carl Junction High School
Donavon Vantrease, “The Pickle and the Pandemic,”3D Art, Carl Junction High School
Suzanne Ratcliff, “Bound,” 2D Art, Neosho, Community
Nellie Mitchell, “Monochromatic Quarantine,” 2D Art, Joplin, Community
Nicolas Neal, “The Power of a Smile,” 2D Art, Carl Junction High School
Abigail Guatney, “Covid 19 Aftermath,” 2D Art, Diamond High School
Nellie Mitchell, “Teachers Vs. the Pandemic,” 2D Art, Joplin, Community
Miriam Thomas, “Everyday Life,” 2D Art, Neosho High School
Ashlynn Stevens, “Inside the Chaotic Mind,” 2D Art, Carl Junction High School
Jacob Shroder, “Pandemic Depression,” 2D Art, Carl Junction High School
Aleah Ummel, “Living in a Fish Bowl,” 2D Art, Neosho High School
Aleah Ummel, “Hidden Hope,” 2D Art, Neosho High School
Aleah Ummel, “Numbers Rising,” 2D Art, Neosho High School