THOMAS JEFFERSON INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL PRESENTS
About Doris Walters
Dr. Doris Walters was a longtime professor of English at Missouri Southern State University, where she taught and mentored students for more than three decades. A devoted scholar, teacher, and advocate for literature, she shaped generations of readers, writers, and educators through her commitment to language, curiosity, and thoughtful engagement with the world.
Dr. Walters was known not only for intellectual rigor but also for her ability to bring levity and joy into spaces of depth and darkness. She believed that humor and humanity were not distractions from serious literary work but essential companions to it.
In classrooms and conversations alike, she welcomed complexity and did not shrink when discussions became difficult. Her students remember her as someone who could hold hard truths and laughter in the same breath, meeting challenging texts and ideas with resilience, grace, and wit.
A passionate champion of poetry, Dr. Walters played a significant role in elevating the legacy of Langston Hughes within the Joplin community and beyond. She was instrumental in advocating for the creation of a U.S. postage stamp honoring Hughes and worked tirelessly to ensure that his work and voice remained visible, studied, and celebrated here in his birthplace. Through lectures, events, and public scholarship, she helped connect literary study to civic memory and cultural responsibility.
Equally important was her dedication to future educators. Dr. Walters understood teaching as a form of stewardship and took particular care in mentoring students who would go on to teach literature themselves. Her influence extended far beyond her own classroom through the teachers she trained, encouraged, and inspired to approach literature with seriousness, empathy, and courage.
This competition honors Dr. Walters’s belief in the Enduring Power of Words and Voices. It celebrates writing and recitation not only as academic pursuits but as acts of attention, resilience, and shared humanity.
Overview
The Doris Walters Prize for Young Writers is a regional literary competition for high school students, established in honor of Dr. Doris Walters and her enduring commitment to literature, teaching, and the life of the mind. This inaugural competition is intended to mark the beginning of an annual tradition celebrating excellence in writing and spoken poetry among young writers in the surrounding community.
For the 2026 competition, students are invited to explore the theme What Endures through original writing and poetry recitation, with an emphasis on craft, voice, and thoughtful engagement with language.
Categories
Prose Fiction
Original short fiction that engages the theme What Endures. Judges will consider narrative structure, characterization, voice, language, and thematic depth. All genres are welcome.
Original Poetry
Original poems written by the student that engages the theme What Endures. Judges will consider imagery, diction, structure, sound, originality, and emotional or intellectual resonance.
Poetry Recitation
A memorized recitation of a published poem that reflects the theme What Endures. Poems must be selected from the Poetry Out Loud website. Initial judging will be based on video submissions.
The top five finalists will be invited to perform their recitation live at the awards ceremony. Judges will consider interpretation, vocal clarity, pacing, presence, and understanding of the poem.
Eligibility
Open to Joplin area high school students (grades 9–12)
Individual submissions only
How to Submit Your Work (1-2)
All submissions must be made through the official competition webpage, accessible via the QR code provided below or at https://www.tjeffschool.org/academics/doris-walters/.
Before submitting, be sure you have reviewed the category-specific guidelines and requirements described on each category page.
Step 1: Choose Your Category
Students may submit work in one or more category:
Prose Fiction Original Poetry Poetry Recitation
Each category has distinct requirements regarding format, length, and submission type. Submissions that do not meet category guidelines may not be considered.
Step
2: Complete the Submission Form
Students will be asked to provide the following information:
1.Full name
2.School name
3 Grade level
4 School email address
5.Category of submission
6.Title(s) of submitted work
7 For Poetry Recitation submissions: the title of the poem and its poet
This identifying information is collected separately from submission files to allow for anonymous judging
How to Submit Your Work (3-4)
Step 3: Upload Your Files
Upload the required file(s) for your chosen category:
Prose Fiction: one PDF file
Original Poetry: up to three PDF files (one poem per file)
Poetry Recitation: video file(s), up to two submissions
Please confirm that:
Your files meet all format and length requirements
Your name does not appear on written submissions
Files are complete and readable before uploading
Step 4: Submit
Once all required fields are completed and files are uploaded, review your information carefully and submit the form.
You will receive a confirmation message after a successful submission.
Important Notes
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Submissions that exceed length limits or fail to meet requirements may not be considered. Judging is anonymous. Final placement decisions are made at the judges’ discretion and are final.
We encourage students to submit work they are proud of and that thoughtfully engages the theme What Endures.
Judging and Awards
Judging
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of business leaders, educators, and literary professionals. Judging will be based on artistic merit, clarity of voice, command of language, and thoughtful engagement with the theme. All submissions will be judged anonymously.
Awards
First Place, Second Place, and Third Place will be awarded in each category. Thanks to generous donors, this cash prizes of $100 (1 place), $75 (2nd place), and $50 (3 place) will be rewarded in each category. Please help ensure the future success of the Doris Walters Prize for Young Writers by making a donation at the awards ceremony.
Honorable Mentions may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.
Poetry Recitation finalists will perform live, with final placements announced following the performances.
2026 Important Dates
Submission Deadline: Saturday, April 11
Finalists Notified: Tuesday, April 28
Awards Ceremony and Live Recitation: Friday, May 8
Prose Fiction
The Prose Fiction category invites high school students to submit original short fiction that meaningfully engages the annual theme, What Endures. Submissions should demonstrate narrative control, originality, and a thoughtful use of language.
Writers are encouraged to take artistic risks while maintaining clarity, coherence, and discipline. All genres are welcome.
Submission Expectations
Original work by the student Fictional prose (short story) Must engage the theme What Endures (directly or indirectly)
Typed, double-spaced
Length: 2,000 words or fewer
12-point font, 1-inch margins submitted as PDF Title included Student name not included on the manuscript (for anonymous judging)
Submissions exceeding the word limit will not be considered. Shorter, focused stories are encouraged.
Judging Criteria for Prose Fiction
Submissions will be evaluated holistically, with attention to the following:
Narrative Craft
Plot development, pacing, structure, and coherence
Characterization
Depth, complexity, and believability of characters
Voice and Style
Command of language, tone, and authorial presence
Thematic Engagement
Insightful and meaningful exploration of What Endures
Overall Impact
Originality, emotional or intellectual resonance, and artistic risk
Original Poetry
The Original Poetry category celebrates the power of language in its most concentrated form. Students are invited to submit original poems that explore the theme What Endures through imagery, sound, structure, and voice. Poems may be written in any form or style.
Submission Expectations
Original poem(s) written by the student
Any poetic form or style
Must engage the theme What Endures
Typed and formatted at the poet’s discretion
submitted as PDF
Title(s) included Student name not included on the poem(s) poems submitted as separate files
Length: Up to 3 poems, submitted as separate files
No poem may exceed 40 lines
Judging Criteria for Original Poetry
Submissions will be evaluated holistically, with attention to the following:
Imagery and Language
Precision, originality, and evocative use of words
Sound and Rhythm
Attention to musicality, pacing, and poetic movement
Structure and Form
Effective use of form, lineation, and visual layout
Thematic
Engagement
Insightful and meaningful exploration of What Endures
Overall Impact
Originality, emotional or intellectual resonance, and artistic risk
Award Limitation Policy
An individual student may not receive more than one medal within a single category. If multiple submissions by the same student merit placement, the highest-ranking submission will be awarded.
Poetry Recitation
The Poetry Recitation category honors poetry as a spoken art. Students will recite a memorized, published poem selected from the Poetry Out Loud website that reflects the theme What Endures.
This category emphasizes interpretation, presence, and understanding of the poem rather than theatrical performance. The top five finalists will be invited to perform their recitation live at the awards ceremony. Final placements will be determined following these performances.
Submission Expectations
Poem(s) selected from the Poetry Out Loud website
Memorized recitation
Initial submission via video recording Video must show the student clearly, without editing
No costumes, props, music, or theatrical staging
Minimal movement encouraged recording must begin with the title of the poem and its poet maximum 2 submissions per student
Preferred file types: mp4 and mov
Judging Criteria for Poetry Recitation
Submissions will be evaluated holistically, with attention to the following:
Interpretation
and Understanding
Demonstrated comprehension of the poem’s meaning and tone
Vocal Delivery
Clarity, pacing, volume, and articulation
Presence and Poise
Confidence, focus, and connection with the audience
Engagement with Theme
Thoughtful alignment between poem choice and What Endures
Overall Effectiveness
Cohesive, compelling, and respectful performance
Award Limitation Policy
An individual student may not receive more than one medal within a single category. If multiple submissions by the same student merit placement, the highest-ranking submission will be awarded.
HONORING WHAT ENDURES
GIVING VOICE TO WHAT ENDURES
WRITING WHAT ENDURES
