Hannah Nathan Rosen was a rising senior English major and creative writer at Towson University when she died unexpectedly in January 2018. Her parents, Linda Nathan and Elliot Rosen, created this award to honor her memory, as well as her love for creative writing and the Department of English. Both Professors Leslie Harrison and Jeannie Vanasco had Hannah as a student in her last semester at TU, and they adored her and admired her writing and her courage. It is an honor to be able to administer this prize on behalf of the college, the university, and Hannah’s family with each new issue of Grub Street.
The prize gives a financial award to a creative writing student whose work in either creative nonfiction or poetry (Hannah’s two loves) is outstanding, and who has senior status. Our hope is that this award will make a gifted writer’s journey and transitions after graduation a little easier.
Through this page, we honor the late Hannah Nathan Rosen and Elliot Rosen.
The 2024-2025 winner is Findley Eve Holland for her creative nonfiction piece “Buttertubs.”
The 2023-2024 winner is Meghan Weiss for her creative nonfiction piece “Hearth.”
The 2022-2023 winner is Jaellin King for her poems “[Not all kin are kind to us some of them are fine but other they lie] Imitation of [The famous poets came for us they came on us or some of us] by Diane Seuss]” and “Accents.”
The 2021-2022 winner is Esther Rose for her creative nonfiction piece “Someone You Know.”
The 2020-2021 winner is Kathleen Wallish for her poems “[Mother you know silence]” and “Void of Potential.”
The 2019-2020 winner is Kiersten Kessler for her creative nonfiction piece “Letter for My Sister.”
The 2018-2019 winner is Alison Hazle for her poems “[I Could Paint Some Surreal Image],” “Carmelita,” “I Think I Am Happy Now,” and “Farewell Party.”
