Christine Sycks takes first place in Mary Harry Prizes essay contest

COSHOCTON − The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum has announced the 2023 winners of The Mary Harris Prizes for non-fiction writing.

This year’s first place winner is Christine Sycks with her essay "Colonel William Simmons." Second place went to three individuals: Tom Edwards with "William Green 1870 – 1952 Coshocton, Ohio;" Jennifer Wilkes with "Captured by Indians – The True Story;" and Bianca Roberson with "Opportunities and Life Lessons."

Honorable mentions went to Susan Nolan with "500 Acres," Dana Kittner with "Forests of Grandeur" and Robbie Kehl with "The Highwaymen."

The yearly competition, sponsored by Coshocton native Dr. Scott Butler, encourages the study and better understanding of Coshocton’s frontier history. It is open to persons of any age who reside or work in Coshocton County, including students whose permanent home is local. The essays are judged double-blind by Butler and an out-of-state panel of individuals.

Winning essays from 2020 to now will be available for reading at jhmuseum.org by the end of the year. Past essays from 2016 to 2020 can be found in back issues of the "The Coshocton Review."

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Christine Sycks takes first in The Mary Harry Prizes essay contest