MSMS’s literary magazine Southern Voices won individual awards in the Best Poem, Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, Narrative Non-Fiction, Personal Essay, Photo, Graphic Art and Spread Design categories and achieved a superior overall rating at the 2025 Mississippi Scholastic Press Association’s Best of Mississippi Literary Magazines contest. 

More than 150 submissions were received, but only 20 were accepted for the final publication. Southern Voices advisor Thomas Richardson said the intensive effort and thorough screening done in the Creative Writing class guaranteed only the strongest pieces were selected.

“We know [the magazine] is already good because of all the strong submissions,” Richardson said. “The poetry from last year’s group was as crisp as I’ve seen in a long time. [The students] had a keen eye and dedication for tight visuals and concrete details.” 

Senior Co-Editor-in-Chief Colin Chung said the strongest pieces are ones showcasing individuality and personal experience. 

“The most standout works in the magazine are the ones that are the most unapologetically themselves,” Chung said. “You are the only person that will ever be you, and to be able to speak from the uniqueness of your experiences is a powerful thing.” 

Southern Voices provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their artistic talents through publications.

“I never thought that I would ever be published until I came to MSMS,” co-Editor-in-Chief Sasha Harvey said. “[Southern Voices] gives students a way to share their creativity through art and writing.”

The magazine is open for submissions starting in December until late January or early February.

“We’re starting over,” Richardson said. “We did well in the contest, but it is time to prove it again.”

2025 Southern Voices Awards:

Best Poem:

2024 graduate Savannah Massey, “on friday nights, i feel like judas” — Winner; “How to Handle Your Very Own Crown of Thorns: a step-by-step guide” — Finalist

Best Flash Fiction:

Massey, “my obituary is written on a postcard, says wish you were here” — Winner

2024 graduate Grace Ann Courtney, “7:00 p.m. Nightly News” — Finalist

Best Short Fiction:

Massey, “Tints of Orange” — Winner

2024 graduate Jaidyn Bryant, “Fire and Blood” — Finalist

Best Narrative Nonfiction:

2024 graduate Kaylee Alford, “Dirt” — Winner

Massey, “Autobiography of an Open Wound” — Finalist

Best Personal Essay:

Courtney, “I’m a Kid in Theater” — Finalist

2024 graduate Claire Rizzo, “Welcome to the Delta” — Finalist

2024 graduate Max Thompson, “Walking the Valley” — Finalist

Best Photo:

Senior Cassie van Riessen, “Delta Cotton” — Finalist

Best Hand-Drawn Art:

Senior Mirae Nishikawa, “Blood in the Water” — Finalist

Best Graphic Illustration Art:

2024 graduate Ramse Jefferson, “Boston Sunset” — Winner

Senior Althea Wells, “Untitled Saint” — Finalist

Best Spread Design:

Southern Voices — Finalist