Arthur William Hinners and Louise Hinners Sipfle Poetry Prize, presented by The Academy of American Poets
First awarded in 1979, the prize is open to all IWU students, though English majors have won the bulk of the awards. Previous winners include Sandra Steingraber, who went on be become a celebrated writer-biologist. This is a cash prize of $150 for the winner, with honorable mention certificates also awarded. The Academy of American Poets sponsors these contests every spring at more than 150 American colleges and universities. Winning poems are eligible for publication by the Academy. Students submit portfolios of two to ten original poems, to be screened by the English department and judged by an accomplished writer not affiliated with IWU. Previous winners:
2025--Abraham Bishop
2024--Farah Bassyouni
2023--Nina Deboni
2022--Farah Bassyouni
2021--Bonnie Smith
2020--Yovana Milosevic
2019--Kathryn Halford
2018--Grace McGovern
2017--John McHugh
2016--Grace McGovern
2015--Erica Kucharski
2014--Colleen O'Connor
2013--Janna Strain
2012--Korey Williams
2011--Stephen Whitfield
2010鈥擝ethAnne Roberts and Mike Whitfield
2009鈥擪aelyn Riley
2008鈥擪aelyn Riley
2007鈥擜manda ReCupido and Kaelyn Riley
2006鈥擜my Kowalski
2005鈥擩acelyn Jemc
2004鈥擟helsea Hillyer
2003鈥擜ustin Smith
2002--William R. Porter
2001鈥擬ark A. Heine
2000鈥擟hristine L. Pacyk
1999鈥擟hristine L. Pacyk
1998鈥擨saac P. Spear
1997鈥擨saac P. Spear
1996鈥擟aroline M. Pyevich
1995鈥擲arah L. Fowles
1994鈥擹arina S. Mullan and David L. Yerkes
1993鈥擪ristin H. Seidler-Connolly
1992鈥擱ichard A. House
1991鈥擜ngela J. Hill
1990鈥擟heryl L. Delk
1989鈥擡ric S. Gardner
1988鈥擧eidi Miller
1987鈥擩im Lewis
Michael Theune - Robert Harrington Endowed Professor of English and Chair of English
Department - English