Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Events

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Events

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Randall Albers Young Writers Awards: 2026 Recognition Ceremony

Saturday, April 18, 2026
1:30 p.m.

Harold Washington Library Center
Reception Hall
400 S. State Street
Chicago, IL 60605

The fourth annual RAYWA recognition ceremony brought together this year’s prize winners. Each of the eight prize-placing authors (four in prose and four in poetry) read their winning entries before receiving their plaques, certificates, and checks. Final judges Timothy David Rey and Megan Stielstra presented the honors. A reception took place after the ceremony. The program was free and open to the general public.

RAYWA 2026 Program

Winners received certificates, plaques, and prize money, in addition to publication of their pieces in the commemorative program. (Photo by Don Seeley).

Justin Shannon, representing the Chicago Public Library, welcomed guests and shared information about the wonderful Teen Services throughout the system. (Photo by Don Seeley).

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame President, Jane Hseu, makes her introductory remarks. (Photo by Don Seeley).

Final Prose judge Megan Stielstra expresses how emotional the winning stories made her. (Photo by Don Seeley).

Timothy David Rey, final Poetry judge, speaks of his great admiration for the submissions he read. (Photo by Don Seeley).

Associate Board Members Jasminum McMullen and Anna Hyslop explain the submission and judging process. (Photo by Don Seeley).

Honorable Mention Prose winner Livee Pohlmann, a sophomore at Lincoln-Way West, reads her story, "The Birth of a Siren." (Photo by Don Seeley).

4th Place Poetry winner Camila Ortiz, a senior at Lincoln Park High School, reads "Mount Helicon." (Photo by Don Seeley).

4th Place Prose winner Kabir Singh, a freshman at Stevenson High School, reads, "The Cartography of Almost." (Photo by Don Seeley).

Third Place Poetry winner Sofi Vargas, a freshman at East Leyden High School, accepts her certificate from Randall Albers for "Bilingual." (Photo by Don Seeley).

Third Place Prose winner Nate Schieber, Walter Payton College Prep, a freshman at Walter Payton College Prep, reads "The Sanity Memorial Center." (Photo by Don Seeley).

Liam Benham, a junior at The Chicago High School for the Arts, signs the commemorative poster as the Second Place poetry winner for his "Seagull Yahtzee." (Photo by Don Seeley).

Vanessa Anda, a senior at John Hancock College Prep, reads her Second Place Prose piece, "Half Present Moments Among Lasting Memories" (Photo by Don Seeley).

Chloe Xu, a junior at Stevenson High School, reads her winning poem, "Abecedarian Appeal." (Photo by Don Seeley).

Lucille Malloy, a junior at DePaul College Prep, reads her winning Prose entry, "Daisy is Waiting for Us." (Photo by Don Seeley).

Winning students in the 2026 Randall Albers Young Writers Awards. (Photos by Don Seeley).

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Email: Don Evans
4043 N. Ravenswood Ave., #222
Chicago, IL 60613
773.414.2603