Karys Foy of Russellville, Christopher Wilkerson of Little Rock and Rain Jack of Van Buren captured the top prizes in the Arkansas Tech University Lit Fest 2026 writing contest.
The awards were announced on Thursday, March 19, at the conclusion of the second annual ATU Lit Fest, a day-long seminar that provided high school students with information about the creative, educational and career opportunities available to individuals with an interest in and a talent for writing.
Foy, a sophomore at Russellville High School, earned the $500 first-place prize for the writing contest. Wilkerson, a junior at Little Rock Catholic High School, and Jack, a junior at Van Buren High School, both captured $250 runner-up prizes.
Contest participants were challenged to write and submit a fictional short story based in Arkansas’ past, present or future.
Eli Cranor, who led the creation of Lit Fest and organizes the event, is in his third year as writer in residence and instructor in the ATU College of Arts and Humanities and the ATU Department of English and World Languages.
Speakers at ATU Lit Fest 2026 included Ayana Gray, an Arkansas-based New York Times bestselling author, and Greg Brownderville, poet and director of the creative writing program at Southern Methodist University.
Cranor offered a session that he co-presented with his mentor, long-time Ouachita Baptist University faculty member Dr. Johnny Wink.
Approximately 150 students participated in ATU Lit Fest 2026. In addition to the writing contest and the speaker sessions, participants also toured the ATU campus and ate lunch at Chambers Cafeteria.
ATU Lit Fest 2026 was sponsored by Fat Daddy’s BBQ, Mullen Team Sports and Dog Ear Books.
Learn more about the ATU Department of English and World Languages at www.atu.edu/humanities/worldlanguages.
