RADFORD – Radford University’s English Department recently announced the winners of the fifth annual Scott Christianson Essay Award.

Eric Linkenhoker, a graduate student in English and graduate teaching fellow, claimed first prize with his essay, “You’ll Never Forget Your First.” Second prize was awarded to Liesel Eby, a junior English major for her essay, “Blind Leading the Blind.” The authors of the prize-winning essays receive a certificate of accomplishment and a cash prize.

Honorable mention was awarded to the essays “Among the Ages,” by Kathryn Bondurant, and “The Divining Rod at Dunkard’s Bottom,” by Jason Long.

English professors Rick Van Noy, Jim Minick and Tim Poland judged the contest.  “We received nearly double the number of entries we received in previous years, among them many very fine essays,” Poland said. “The competition was decidedly close and fierce.”

The Scott Christianson Essay Award was established in the fall of 2004 to honor the life and career of the late professor of English, and to recognize exemplary achievement by RU students in the genre of the essay.

The two prize-winning essays can be read on the Department of English website.