Northwest English Students and Alumni Write Their Way to Success at MCCCWA

by Sarah Smith-Hutchinson

Senatobia, MS (04/16/2026) — Northwest Mississippi Community College students and faculty participated in the annual awards hosted by the Mississippi Community College Creative Writers' Association (MCCCWA) 46th Annual Workshop and Awards luncheon on April 10, at Northwest's Heindl Center for the Performing Arts.

Northwest took home three first-place awards and three honorable mentions. The college won first place for the literary magazine "Passage," which was produced by various writers and artists, including editor Valentine Moyers of Hernando, a Northwest graduate who is currently a graphic design major at Mississippi State University, and Northwest English instructor Harold Johnson, who is the magazine's advisor.

Northwest alumna Payton Feagin of Vicksburg won first place for "Flowers" for creative non-fiction. Feagin graduated with her associate degree in criminal justice at Northwest and is currently studying philosophy and pre-law at the University of South Alabama.

In the Poetry category, art student Sunny Marriott of Olive Branch won first place for her poem "Tritych."

Northwest psychology alumna Gabriella Miller of Senatobia was an honorable mention for her dramatic writing work, "Hypothetically." In the creative non-fiction category, music student Allenah McClendon of Hernando received honorable mention for her work "Home." General education student Emma Ellis of Pope was chosen as an honorable mention for her literary analysis, "The Secret of the Veil."

"I could not be more excited for our student writers," said Johnson. "I get to read their works on the page every day, but to have them recognized as the best of the best, and to have their creative genius shared with the entire state--well, 'proud' is an understatement. I am in awe."

The Northwest Department of Humanities is proud of the work they accomplished and is excited about the future. Next week, on April 21, at 2 p.m., the department will be holding the reception for their second literary magazine, "Passage."

To learn more about Northwest, please visit northwestms.edu.

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