Bethesda, Chevy Chase Writers Awarded In Local Writer's Showcase

BETHESDA, MD — Residents of Bethesda are among more than 30 writers awarded for their work in the the Bethesda's Local Writer's Showcase, a contest created by the Bethesda Urban Partnership.

"The Showcase consists of two awards ceremonies and readings, honoring the winners of the annual Bethesda Essay and Short Story Contest, and the Bethesda Poetry Contest," the Bethesda Urban Partnership said in a news release.

Dian Seidel of Chevy Chase won first place in the essay category, Ellie Tinsky of Walt Whitman High School won second place in the high school essay contest, Allison Xu of Walter Johnson High School won third place in the high school essay contest, Phoebe Lewis of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School won an honorable mention in the high school essay contest, Elliot Wilner of Bethesda won first place in the short story contest, Jaime Banks of Bethesda won first place in the poetry category, Raquel Vazquez of Bethesda won third place in the poetry category, Akbota Saudabayeva of Bethesda was an honorable mention in the poetry category and Sophia Hall of Bethesda's Holton Arms won in the poetry category.

The ceremonies will be March 10 and 11, and will be free and open to the public. The writers' work was judged by award-winning poet Dora Malec, writer Christine Koubek, Director of Creative Writing at George Washington University, and Lisa Page, and author, writing instructor GG Renee Hill, and writers Myna Chang, Carrie Callaghan, Ofelia Montelongo, Will Pittman, Adam Schwartz and Alice Stephens, the Bethesda Urban Partnership said in a news release.

More than 450 pieces were submitted to the contest. A total of $4,500 in prize money will be distributed among the winners and all essay and short story winners will be published on Bethesda Magazine's website and the Bethesda Urban Partnership's website.

Bethesda Magazine and The Writer’s Center are sponsors of the showcase.

Here's the full list of winners:

Essay Winners

Dian Seidel, Chevy Chase, MD, 1st Place

Marla Hirsch, Potomac, MD, 2nd Place

Louis Siegel, Rockville, MD, 3rd Place

Jennifer Blanck, Arlington, VA, Honorable Mention

Thu Nguyen, Gaithersburg, MD, Honorable Mention

Emmy Song, Rockville, MD, Honorable Mention

High School Essay Winners

Ada Fiala, Richard Montgomery High School, 1st Place

Ellie Tinsky, Walt Whitman High School, 2nd Place

Allison Xu, Walter Johnson High School, 3rd Place

Phoebe Lewis, Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Honorable Mention

Short Story Winners

Elliot Wilner, Bethesda, MD, 1st Place

Sharon Nissim, Silver Spring, MD, 2nd Place

Jackie Jacobson, Rockville, MD, 3rd Place

Eva Cantler, Washington, DC, Honorable Mention

Kristina Saccone, Silver Spring, MD, Honorable Mention

High School Short Story Winners

Cathryn Russ, Wootton High School, 1st Place

Angelica Frude, Richard Montgomery High School, 2nd Place

Jonah Witte, Montgomery Blair High School, 3rd Place

Mikayla Bellman, Paint Branch High School, Honorable Mention

Camryn Crump, Damascus High School, Honorable Mention

Omotola Fadeyi, Paint Branch High School, Honorable Mention

Poetry Winners

Jaime Banks, Bethesda MD, 1st Place

Frederick Zirm, Rockville, MD, 2nd Place

Raquel Vazquez, Bethesda, MD, 3rd Place

Akbota Saudabayeva, Bethesda, MD, Honorable Mention

Doug Wilkinson, Takoma Park, MD, Honorable Mention

Jenn Koiter, Washington, D.C., Honorable Mention

High School Poetry Winners

Sophia Hall, Holton Arms

Sam Melton, Rockville High School

Sophia Flyer, Georgetown Day School

Zara Okudo, Wootton High School

Joshua Phillips, Phillips Academy