URI Writing Award 2024-2025 Recipients

Congratulations to this year’s awardees!

Seven University of Rhode Island students have been named recipients of the 2024-25 University of Rhode Island Writing Award.

In Advocacy

Undergraduate award: Lydia Nicolau ’26, Professional and Public Writing & Computer Science, submission: “Unity Over Differences”

In Creative

Graduate award: Nina King Sannes ’30, English, submission: “Property Rights”

Undergraduate award: Maeve Van Couyghen ’27, Creative Writing and Public/Professional Writing, submission: “New World Vultures”

In Informing the Public

Undergraduate award: Kalliana Marek ’26, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems; Marine Affairs, submission: “At odds over offshore wind”

Undergraduate award: Lauren Peckham ’25, Criminology/Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Political Science, submission: “Merton’s General Strain Theory & The Oklahoma City Bombings”

In Scholarly/Research

Graduate award: Chemutai Kiplagat ’26, English, submission: “Unsettling the Gaze: Cultural Dialogue in African Women’s Writing”

Undergraduate award: Caroline McCullough ’26, Anthropology, submission: “Seaweed Sovereignty: Seaweed’s Role in the Irish Potato Famine and Modern Day Irish Culture”


Thank you to all the students who submitted their work.