To honor the memory of Emyl Jenkins, who passed away in 2010, James River Writers presents an award to an outstanding individual who, as Emyl did, inspires a love of writing and writing education in Virginia.
An advocate for writers and their readers, Emyl had a knack for connecting both people and organizations. She shared her time and expertise with everyone she encountered. She encouraged writers at all levels, especially fledglings trying to get those first words down on the page. Her generous spirit and enthusiasm rubbed off on everyone she touched, and, like ripples in a pond, her actions widened the circle of writing encouragement.
Award Details
Any Virginia individual is eligible, except for members of the JRW board of directors, the advisory board, or staff.
A panel of judges, chosen from the JRW board of directors and JRW membership to represent different levels of writing experience, will pick the winner. They will choose the nominee who best matches Emyl Jenkins’ efforts to make Virginia a better place for writers, whether by connecting people and/or organizations around the written word, sharing time and expertise about writing, or simply encouraging writers to do what they do.
The winner will receive an award that honors Emyl Jenkins’ work and reflects her style.
Nominations will be accepted May 1, 2016 through September 1, 2016. To make a nomination, send an email to Katharine Herndon at [email protected] explaining, in no more than 500 words, how the nominee makes Virginia a better place for writers. The nomination must include contact information (e-mail and phone) for the nominator and two others who can further illuminate the nominee’s qualifications.
The winner will receive the award at the James River Writers Conference on Sunday, October 16, 2016.
Jason Tesauro and Lee Gimpel at presentation of 2012 awards
More About Emyl
- A tribute by Virginia Pye
- Articles in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Danville Register & Bee