David Wade Hogue Award Winners

Please join us in celebrating the Winner and Finalists of the Second Annual David Wade Hogue Scholarship Award:

Winner: Sasha Siem
Finalists: Deborah L. Staunton & Lisa Ludden Perry
Semifinalist: Linea Jantz

As winner of the award, Ms. Siem will receive a cash prize of $500 to support her writing and a three-month mentorship with Poet Kim Noriega. Finalists Deborah Staunton and Lisa Ludden Perry will receive the opportunity to participate in one of Ms. Noriega's four-week facilitated Poetry Barn workshops (online) and semifinalist, Linea Jantz will receive the opportunity to participate in one of Ms. Noriega's self-paced, online Poetry Barn workshops. Ms. Siem will also be featured in a culmination reading at the end of the award period in 2024.

The David Wade Hogue scholarship was created in 2022 at a time when Covid 19 had taken a disproportionately high toll on mothers, particularly working mothers. The award honors Ms. Noriega's long-time friend and champion of her writing from an early age. Dave passed away from cancer in October 2021.

Called the Rocket Man Award because, as a kid, Dave loved space exploration, Ms. Noriega notes, “David Wade Hogue (Dave) and I grew up together in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio and were friends for over 50 years. Even during times when our life paths diverged, we’d reconnect as if we’d never missed a beat. One of our ‘divergent path’ times was a particularly dark time in my life, one that Dave came to understand through poems I later wrote about that period of my life. He always expressed regret that he wasn’t close at hand to support me during those tough times. I can absolutely see him smiling, knowing he’s supporting other moms now."

Congratulations to all!