Formerly the National Program Directors’ Prize, the AWP Prize for Undergrad Lit Mags is awarded annually to one outstanding undergraduate-led journal and two runners-up. The prize celebrates the work of undergraduate student writers and editors, including exceptional content, cohesive design, and innovation.
The 2025 winner of the AWP Prize for Undergrad Lit Mags is Savannah State University’s Estuary, volume 16, selected by judge Ọna Anosike. About the winning issue, Anosike said the following:
Estuary from Savannah State University is a bold and beautifully produced journal that reflects a campus community deeply invested in the literary arts. The themes of resilience and liberation thread through its pages, not just in the work itself, but in the spirit behind it. From its sharp writing to its strong visual design, the journal feels alive with voice and vision. It’s clear that this is more than a publication; it’s a platform for connection, expression, and creative power.
Read notes below from Dr. Chad Faries and Nyree Wright, faculty director and president of Estuary, respectively, on the process of crafting such a successful issue.
Notes on the Issue
Like an actual estuary, our issues ebb and flow with sweet and brackish waters. It has been nearly a decade since the last formal issue of Estuary, but the environment has survived on campus. Estuarine environments are among the most dynamic and diverse in the world. They are constantly fragile and fledgling, while also being the bridge to several different ecosystems. Estuary 16 is the artistic equivalent. Putting a student-run literary journal together with limited funding is always a challenge. Success relies solely on the whims and passions of the volunteers—whether students, faculty, or community—who want to make sure there is a venue for important art and literature. Amidst budget pitfalls and the deactivation of three majors—English, history, and Africana studies—closely aligned with Estuary’s mission, passion prevailed. We produced not only a magazine; we produced a dynamic year that saw workshops, visiting writers, field trips, backyard parties, a literary week, four visiting writers, artistic collaborations, community service, and new student writing awards. The relevance of the arts—and the critical thinking, soft skills, and workforce versatility it brings to students—is not realized in today’s climate. So, we sought to change that by celebrating success, with a little nod to the revolutionary spirit that is part of SSU. The issue showcases some of the best stories coming out of Tiger’s Roar alongside Tiger profiles and creative works that tell a unified story of resilience and steadfastness. Estuary seamlessly incorporates these voices into a traditional literary magazine genre as an act of liberation. We can’t help it.