Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Language Arts departments are currently taking student entries for the 2016 Writing Competition. Students may enter one work in each of the six categories: personal essay, critical essay, free-verse poetry, structured-verse poetry, short story and one-act play.

The entry deadline is February 1, 2016 and all entries should be submitted electronically with the Writing Contest Form at writingcontest@mgccc.cc.ms.us. Winners will be notified in early March 2016 and first-place winners will be invited to read their winning entry at the Writing Awards Ceremony on April 14, 2016 at the Jefferson Davis Campus. Additionally, all winning entries will be included in the 2016 edition of “illumination,” the college’s literary journal.

The writing contest form and send to For more information about rules and requirements, Dr. Vernon LaCour, Language Arts department chair at the Jefferson Davis Campus, at 228.897.3790 or vernon.lacour@mgccc.edu.