The Crowder Quill, a literary and art magazine of Crowder College, is available in print and was mailed this week to winning entrants. The free magazine is also available at Crowder College campuses and in the community.
Preview the Crowder Quill in digital form here. Also make sure to follow the Crowder Quill on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
May 13, 2026
For Immediate Release
Crowder Quill 45th anniversary awards magazine published
Neosho, MO – The winners of the 45th anniversary contest for the Crowder Quill literary-art magazine of Crowder College have been announced and published.
For the 2025-26 contest, 919 entries were received, and 130 entries awarded and published from 97 individuals in the categories of writing, photography, and art. The Crowder Quill was mailed to winning entrants, and the magazine is available at Crowder College campuses and in the community.
A digital copy of the Crowder Quill is available at www.CrowderQuill.com, as well as information about how to enter next year’s contest, which is already open. Updates are provided on Facebook and Instagram as digital media marketing students practice and provide digital and social media content.
Begun in 1980, the Quill is published each spring; the contest deadline is Feb. 1 each year, and divisions are high school, Crowder, and the community within 100 miles of any Crowder campus.
The magazine was produced in the Digital Marketing Applied Graphics course by the following students: Anika Adame, Joplin; Caitlin Cook, Stella; Jessi Hilton, Goodman; Julie Hilton, Goodman; Maddi Idell, Pineville; Aubrey Knachtal, Purdy; Megan Lawson, Neosho; Heather Maassen, Seneca; Damien Pauley, Carthage; Keira Yenzer, Joplin; and Latonia Bailey, Neosho, Adviser.
All published entrants receive a certificate for gold, silver, bronze or honorable mention, as listed below. $500 scholarships are awarded to the high school gold winners for each category in the Crowder Quill literary/art contest. The one-time scholarship is for the top high school winner in each category: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography, digital art, 2D art, and 3D art for the 2026 contest.
The Crowder Quill is a free literary/art magazine published at Crowder College in order to encourage and showcase the creative abilities of local writers, artists, and photographers, as well as provide a cultural link between Crowder College and our surrounding communities.
As the course that produces the Quill transitions into the Career and Creative Writing certificate at Crowder beginning fall 2026, 2D and 3D Art categories will be discontinued in order to align with curriculum, create more space for writing, and encourage digital visual art participation. Artists working in traditional 2D and 3D media are encouraged to participate in the Digital Art category by adapting their work and expanding their creative skillsets. For more details, see the article “Contest Opens with Altered Categories”.
Beginning with the 2026-27 contest cycle, which is now open, the categories for the Quill are fiction, nonfiction, poetry, color photography, B&W photography, and digital art, which is computer-generated or digitally altered art as well as extensively altered photography for special effects.
This transition ensures the continued publication of the Crowder Quill. Relocating the course to a new program has allowed the magazine to continue its 45-year tradition of encouraging and celebrating creativity within the college and surrounding community.
For more information, contact the program coordinator/instructor: LatoniaBailey@Crowder.edu.
The list is best viewed from the horizontal position with a mobile device or on a laptop or desktop computer.
| First | Last name | Category | City/Town | Division | High School | Award | Title |
| Lidia | Alejo | 2D Art | Anderson | High School | McDonald County | Honorable Mention | La Birria |
| Lidia | Alejo | Nonfiction | Anderson | High School | McDonald County | Silver | I Believe Culture Is an Important Part in Our Life |
| Grace | Allison | B&W Photography | Anderson | High School | McDonald County | Bronze | Grand Teton National Park |
| Tiffany | Blevins | 3D Art | Anderson | Community | Honorable Mention | Like a Greek God | |
| Tiffany | Blevins | Digital Art | Anderson | Community | Honorable Mention | Sleeping in the City | |
| Journie | Daniels | Nonfiction | Anderson | High School | McDonald County | Bronze | Rapid Deluge: The Flash Flood |
| Journie | Daniels | Digital Art | Anderson | High School | McDonald County | Silver | Iridescent Bubble |
| Steve | Wilson | B&W Photography | Anderson | Community | Bronze | Mine | |
| Sierra | Wilson | Color Photography | Anderson | Community | Silver | Pier into the Ocean | |
| Raegen | Phelps | Fiction | Aurora | High School | Aurora | Gold | Ambition’s End |
| Molly | Cameron | 2D Art | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Bronze | One Man’s Trash |
| Molly | Cameron | 3D Art | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Honorable Mention | Kalos’astra |
| Lydia | Churchill | Fiction | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Silver | Once and Forever, Peace |
| Kaden | Eidem | 3D Art | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Honorable Mention | Fish out of Water |
| Maristela | Lacour | 2D Art | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Honorable Mention | Shared Horizon |
| Maristela | Lacour | Color Photography | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Honorable Mention | Belle Vue |
| Brooke | Pope | Color Photography | Carl Junction | Crowder | Honorable Mention | Bogeys and Birdies | |
| December | Willey | 2D Art | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Honorable Mention | Pawp |
| Aubree | Anderson | 3D Art | Carl Junction | High School | Carl Junction | Honorable Mention | Sweet Treat |
| Eduardo | Salema | 2D Art | Carl junction | High School | Carl Junction | Gold | Vovó |
| Melanie | Chuta | Color Photography | Carthage | Crowder | Gold | Echoes of the Ozarks | |
| Vale | Flores | Digital Art | Carthage | Crowder | Bronze | “Not My Name” | |
| Damien | Pauley | Digital Art | Carthage | Staff | Staff | Flight of Fortresses | |
| Jahnee | Presley | 2D Art | Carthage | Crowder | Silver | Cow Skull | |
| Quinlan | Roberts | Poetry | Cassville | Crowder | Gold | Dead Man Band | |
| Garret | Akin | Poetry | Cassville | Community | Gold | The Tale of Cillian O’Clery | |
| Aubree | Chisam | Color Photography | Crane | Community | Honorable Mention | Barber Shop Moments | |
| Aubree | Chisam | Digital Art | Crane | Community | Silver | Matmos | |
| Cali | Wooldridge | B&W Photography | El Dorado Springs | Crowder | Bronze | Ring Ring | |
| Angela | Carter | Color Photography | Fairview | Crowder | Silver | A Northern Sky | |
| Holly | Vogelpohl | B&W Photography | Fairview | Crowder | Gold | Specter of the Sea | |
| Bryce | Hall | Nonfiction | Goodman | Crowder | Gold | The Epic Showdown | |
| Paul | Hilton | 3D Art | Goodman | Community | Silver | Knife Handle | |
| Jessi | Hilton | 2D Art | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Ocean Oil Painting | |
| Jessi | Hilton | 3D Art | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Natural Object: Shell | |
| Jessi | Hilton | Color Photography | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Crowder After Dark | |
| Jessi | Hilton | Fiction | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Running Toward Tomorrow | |
| Jessi | Hilton | Nonfiction | Goodman | Staff | Staff | How It Feels To Be Seen | |
| Jessi | Hilton | Poetry | Goodman | Staff | Staff | When the Sun Hides | |
| Julie | Hilton | 2D Art | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Fall Reflections | |
| Julie | Hilton | B&W Photography | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Expecto Patronum | |
| Julie | Hilton | Color Photography | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Cape May Winter | |
| Julie | Hilton | Digital Art | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Harry Potter & The Cat, Owl, and Train | |
| Julie | Hilton | Nonfiction | Goodman | Staff | Staff | The Cousins | |
| Julie | Hilton | Poetry | Goodman | Staff | Staff | Misnamed Semester | |
| Buck | Owen | Poetry | Goodman | Community | Bronze | Wildflowers Don’t Care Where They Grow | |
| Saydee | Wheeler | Fiction | Goodman | Crowder | Gold | Ubi Amor, Ibi Vita | |
| Dawn | Kimmel | 2D Art | Granby | Community | Silver | Sunken Splendor | |
| Jolisa | Moua | 2D Art | Granby | Crowder | Gold | Blind Faith | |
| Ellie | Allgood | 2D Art | Jane | High School | McDonald County | Honorable Mention | Reminiscence |
| Anika | Adame | 2D Art | Joplin | Staff | Staff | Mammoth | |
| Anika | Adame | B&W Photography | Joplin | Staff | Staff | The Tree Changes Too | |
| Anika | Adame | Digital Art | Joplin | Staff | Staff | CRT Dreams | |
| Sophia | Anderson | 2D Art | Joplin | Crowder | Bronze | Dozing of the Trees | |
| Sophia | Anderson | Nonfiction | Joplin | Crowder | Silver | It’s In Here | |
| Douglas | Brown | Nonfiction | Joplin | Crowder | Bronze | Rite of Passage | |
| Julie | Catlett | 2D Art | Joplin | Community | Bronze | Sepia Dreams | |
| Amber | Davidson | Color Photography | Joplin | Community | Honorable Mention | Burano | |
| Lola | Fontana | Digital Art | Joplin | Crowder | Silver | Be Gentle | |
| Brooklynn | McGehee | Poetry | Joplin | High School | Carl Junction | Silver | I’m Sorry I’m Not Your Perfect Art Project |
| Nellie | Mitchell | 3D Art | Joplin | Community | Bronze | Sandworm | |
| Mckenzie | Sarakinis | Nonfiction | Joplin | Community | Bronze | How Our Environment Affects Our Culture and Vice Versa | |
| Brinn | Schnelle | 3D Art | Joplin | Community | Honorable Mention | Tea Time | |
| Billie Holladay | Skelley | Poetry | Joplin | Community | Honorable Mention | Avian Imposter | |
| Billie Holladay | Skelley | Fiction | Joplin | Community | Silver | Winds of Change | |
| Billie Holladay | Skelley | Nonfiction | Joplin | Community | Silver | All Together Now: Murmurations | |
| Logan | Weaver | Color Photography | Joplin | High School | Carl Junction | Gold | Mountain Lake Trail |
| Keira | Yenzer | Nonfiction | Joplin | Staff | Staff | Memoir or Momoir | |
| Keira | Yenzer | Poetry | Joplin | Staff | Staff | Banksy | |
| Kelly | Reddin | Fiction | Joplin | Community | Gold | The Mirror | |
| Kelly | Reddin | Nonfiction | Joplin | Community | Honorable Mention | Being Nana Claus | |
| Keely | Taffner | 3D Art | Lamar | High School | Lamar | Bronze | A Day at the Beach |
| Ronald | Smith | Fiction | Loma Linda | Community | Bronze | Griffin Greenfeld’s Final Message | |
| Rita | Johnson | Poetry | Marionville Missouri | High School | Marionville | Gold | Zombies |
| Magdalyn | Lindsey | 3D Art | Monett | Crowder | Gold | Girl’s Best Friend | |
| Magdalyn | Lindsey | 2D Art | Monett | Crowder | Honorable Mention | Good Grief | |
| Aly | Massardo | Fiction | Monett | Community | Honorable Mention | Candlelight | |
| Mandie | Adams | Color Photography | Mount Vernon | Community | Bronze | A Century Crowned | |
| Haley | Kreighbaum | Poetry | Neck City | High School | Webb City | Honorable Mention | The Comeback |
| Marcy | Abercrombie | B&W Photography | Neosho | Community | Gold | Spider Waiting at Entrance of Its Funnel Web | |
| Latonia | Bailey | B&W Photography | Neosho | Staff | Staff | Beach Love | |
| Latonia | Bailey | Color Photography | Neosho | Staff | Staff | Lower Antelope Canyon | |
| Latonia | Bailey | Digital Art | Neosho | Staff | Staff | Ferris Sketch | |
| Selah | Bridges | Nonfiction | Neosho | Crowder | Honorable Mention | Dreams Do Come True | |
| Samantha | Cafferty | Poetry | Neosho | Crowder | Bronze | Confetti Theory | |
| Samantha | Cafferty | Fiction | Neosho | Crowder | Honorable Mention | Unrescued | |
| Venita | Henson | 3D Art | Neosho | Community | Gold | The Winged Fox | |
| Venita | Henson | Fiction | Neosho | Crowder | Silver | Home Is Where My Heart Is | |
| Regina | Hightower | Color Photography | Neosho | Crowder | Bronze | Butterfly | |
| Cassandra | Jordan | Nonfiction | Neosho | Community | Special Merit | Do You Dare | |
| Megan | Lawson | Fiction | Neosho | Staff | Staff | Food Tastes Stronger When You’re Hungry | |
| Terrin | Mcilvaine | Poetry | Neosho | Community | Silver | Lord of Cinders | |
| Michael K | Moore | 2D Art | Neosho | Community | Gold | River Crossing | |
| Maisie | Weston | 3D Art | Neosho | Crowder | Silver | Red Squiggle Tea Set | |
| Logan | Barton | Digital Art | Noel | High School | McDonald County | Gold | Agua Cristalina |
| Jamie | Billings | Digital Art | Noel | Community | Bronze | What’s the Tea? | |
| Jax | Harris | B&W Photography | noel | High School | McDonald County | Honorable Mention | Swish |
| Leah | Stephens | 3D Art | Noel | High School | McDonald County | Silver | Swirling Sky |
| Maggie | Marion | Color Photography | Pierce City | High School | East Newton High School | Bronze | Tools of the Land |
| Briley | Davis | Fiction | Pineville | High School | McDonald County | Honorable Mention | The Knocking in the Wall |
| Peyton | Holiday | Fiction | Pineville | High School | McDonald County | Bronze | Dragons Blight |
| Maddilynn | Idell | 2D Art | Pineville | Staff | Staff | General Chicken | |
| Maddilynn | Idell | 3D Art | Pineville | Staff | Staff | Kita the Kitsune | |
| Maddilynn | Idell | Color Photography | Pineville | Staff | Staff | Golden Hour | |
| Dominick | Trimble | Nonfiction | Pineville | High School | McDonald County | Gold | Jenny |
| David | Zacharias | Digital Art | Pittsburg, KS | Community | Gold | Devil’s Tower Moon | |
| David | Zacharias | B&W Photography | Pittsburg, KS | Community | Honorable Mention | Moab Bluff 1 | |
| Jayden | Mustain | Color Photography | Powell | High School | McDonald County | Silver | The Ones Who Watch Over |
| Aubrey | Knatcal | Digital Art | Purdy | Staff | Staff | Fortune Plant | |
| Leanna | Moore | 3D Art | Purdy | Crowder | Bronze | Nature’s Inner Twines | |
| Hannah | Towne | Poetry | Rich Hill | Crowder | Silver | Not Spoken | |
| Eden | Ray | Poetry | Sarcoxie | High School | Sarcoxie | Honorable Mention | Suffocation |
| Lexi | Burlingame | Fiction | Scammon, KS | Crowder | Bronze | A Haunted Family | |
| Luap | McKeever | 2D Art | Seligman | Community | Honorable Mention | Foggy Mountain | |
| Chayce | Bowman | B&W Photography | Seneca | High School | McDonald County | Gold | Classic Muscle |
| Heather | Maassen | Nonfiction | Seneca | Staff | Staff | Pain and Profit | |
| M.E. | Rowe | Nonfiction | Seneca | Community | Gold | Twenty-six Letters | |
| Caitlyn | Bonass | 3D Art | Shell Knob | High School | Cassville High School | Gold | From the Ashes |
| Jonathan | Martinez | B&W Photography | Southwest City | High School | McDonald County | Silver | Lazy Daisy |
| Kadicey | Wells | B&W Photography | Stark City | Crowder | Silver | Grace in Stillness | |
| Caitlin | Cook | B&W Photography | Stella | Staff | Staff | Silhouette | |
| Caitlin | Cook | Color Photography | Stella | Staff | Staff | Strings | |
| Stacy | Kern | Color Photography | Stotts City | Community | Gold | Dragonfly, Oklahoma | |
| Stacy | Kern | B&W Photography | Stotts City | Community | Honorable Mention | Behind the Chutes | |
| Daniel | Graves | B&W Photography | Webb City | Community | Silver | Spine Black Mountain | |
| Cheyenne | Hill | Digital Art | Webb City | Crowder | Gold | Porcelain Doll | |
| Elizabeth | Rhuems | 2D Art | Webb City | High School | Webb City | Silver | A Late Summer Bloom |
| Hana | Scerbejova | Poetry | Webb City | High School | Webb City | Bronze | Unfamiliar |
| Hope | Shinn | Poetry | Webb City | High School | Webb City | Honorable Mention | The Living Truth, The Present |
| Dixi | Straw | Poetry | Webb City | Crowder | Honorable Mention | Nature in My Home! |