BOOK of the YEAR
Student Contest
MacEwan University’s Book of the Year for 2025/26 is The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard.
You are invited to participate in a student contest to show how the MacEwan Book of the Year has inspired you. Eligibility and submission guidelines are posted in March each year.
Contest details
The 2025/26 contest winners have been selected. The 2026/27 contest will open spring 2027.
Categories
Submissions are adjudicated by MacEwan University faculty, with one prize awarded in each of the three categories. Although every effort is made to reward those entries of high merit, we reserve the right to not award in a category if we feel that no entry is deserving of recognition.
Creative project
- Creative projects are inspired by the structure, style, themes and characters of the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Both individual and collaborative work is accepted.
- Creative projects can have a visual component in any medium (e.g., book trailers, video performances, visual designs, music, fine art, etc.).
- Submissions should be accompanied by a concise written summary outlining the project’s goals (i.e., what you want to achieve) and the relationship of those goals to the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- There are two awards in this category.
Critical essay
- An academic essay analyzes a significant literary or thematic aspect of the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Only original, individual, well-documented work is accepted.
- This submission can be a research essay, personal essay or other type of essay.
- There is no strict word limit for submissions; however, the suggested range for essays is between 1,000 and 3,500 words.
Creative writing
- Creative writing submissions are original short stories, flash and micro fiction, poetry, prose poems, monologues, one-act plays or creative non-fiction inspired by the form, content topic or style of the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Creative writing submissions must be accompanied by a paragraph that contextualizes how the original piece was inspired or informed by the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Submissions should be in standard manuscript format.
Eligibility
Full-time or part-time MacEwan University students are eligible to enter the contest. There is no requirement for good academic standing.
How to enter
1. All submissions must be accompanied by a cover page that includes your full contact information and the category you are competing in. Please include the following on the cover page:
- Name
- Program and year of study
- Mailing address
- Submission category (see below)
- Phone number(s)
- Email address
- Word count of submission
Aside from the cover page, do not put any identifying information on your submission.
2. All submissions must be saved in electronic form (.docx, PDF, .mp4, .mov etc.) and sent as an attachment or shared file to bookoftheyear@macewan.ca. Please type “Student Contest Entry” in the subject line.
3. Award recipients and those receiving honourable mention have the option of publishing their creative submissions on the MacEwan Book of the Year website.
For more information, contact bookoftheyear@macewan.ca.
Selection and award
Submissions are adjudicated by a selection committee, led by the Book of the Year Committee, Office of the Provost. A maximum of four awards, valued at $750 each, will be presented for use toward future tuition fees.
Book of the Year student work
Each year, students from the Department of Design respond to MacEwan's Book of the Year. Enjoy this gallery of creative responses to the 2025/26 Book of the Year, The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard.
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Gwen Hunter – Plan Your Petition
An honourable mention in the annual student contest, Gwen Hunter created a brochure and envelope for the novel’s controlling government to send to petitioners looking to travel to other valleys.
An honourable mention in the annual student contest, Gwen Hunter created a brochure and envelope for the novel’s controlling government to send to petitioners looking to travel to other valleys.
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Mia Olson – East Valley Odyssey, West Valley Whispers, and Tieless Tears wine labels
Featuring watercolour-like images and colours, Mia Olson created three different wine labels. The fronts show various stages of the sun over the valleys, while the backs describe the tastes of each wine, all linked to the themes of the book.
Featuring watercolour-like images and colours, Mia Olson created three different wine labels. The fronts show various stages of the sun over the valleys, while the backs describe the tastes of each wine, all linked to the themes of the book.
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Reyna Wiberg – Three 3D wine bottles
Creating a wine brand named Saveurs du Temps, or Flavours of Time, Reyna Wiberg was one of the creative project winners of the student contest. The set of wine labels features a blue-and-red colour scheme inspired by 3D glasses and symbolizing different time periods.
Creating a wine brand named Saveurs du Temps, or Flavours of Time, Reyna Wiberg was one of the creative project winners of the student contest. The set of wine labels features a blue-and-red colour scheme inspired by 3D glasses and symbolizing different time periods.
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Kiera Moore – Game with map and cards
Creating a game featuring a map and cards, Kiera Moore wanted to give players the experience of being a conseil facing important decisions about whether to accept or reject petitions to travel to other valleys, with each choice either moving the player forward or backward in the game.
Creating a game featuring a map and cards, Kiera Moore wanted to give players the experience of being a conseil facing important decisions about whether to accept or reject petitions to travel to other valleys, with each choice either moving the player forward or backward in the game.
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Alivia Beuker – Postcards
This set of postcards created by Alivia Beuker features different colours and words embodying the mood of The Other Valley. Individually, each card displays an important phrase from the book. Together, the postcards create a landscape of the valleys as a whole.
This set of postcards created by Alivia Beuker features different colours and words embodying the mood of The Other Valley. Individually, each card displays an important phrase from the book. Together, the postcards create a landscape of the valleys as a whole.
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Megan Heryford – Fortune teller and box with guide
A creative project winner of the student contest, Megan Heryford’s fortune teller game, with its accompanying box and brochure, is meant to offer players a glimpse into their lives 20 years ahead in the Eastern Valley. By pairing a playful childhood game with serious outcomes, the design mirrors the novel’s tension between youth and responsibility.
A creative project winner of the student contest, Megan Heryford’s fortune teller game, with its accompanying box and brochure, is meant to offer players a glimpse into their lives 20 years ahead in the Eastern Valley. By pairing a playful childhood game with serious outcomes, the design mirrors the novel’s tension between youth and responsibility.
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Maddi Bentley – Three-book collection for young readers, Tales of the Valley
With a three-storybook collection, Maddi Bentley created her own series, Tales of the Valley. The collection for young readers includes The Girl, The Recluse, and The Builder, and was imagined as two cautionary tales and one story of protection so that readers can learn about the valley and their place within it.
With a three-storybook collection, Maddi Bentley created her own series, Tales of the Valley. The collection for young readers includes The Girl, The Recluse, and The Builder, and was imagined as two cautionary tales and one story of protection so that readers can learn about the valley and their place within it.
Student contest winners
2025/26 Scott Alexander Howard’s The Other Valley
- Faith Skariah (Bachelor of Arts) – Critical essay winner
- Saige Gibson (Bachelor of Science) – Critical essay winner
- Reyna Wiberg (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project winner
- Megan Heryford (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project winner
- Gwen Hunter (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project honourable mention
2024/25 Deborah Willis’ Girlfriend on Mars
- Teanna Schetter (Bachelor of Arts) – Creative writing winner
- Katie Young (Bachelor of Arts) – Critical essay winner
- Taylor Davies (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project winner
- Kayla Sauth (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project winner
- Perl Perez (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project honourable mention
2023/24 Jessica Johns’ Bad Cree
- Hunter Cairns (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project winner
- Haley Yariwon (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project winner
- Brandon Lang (Bachelor of Arts) – Creative writing winner
- Bryant Ong (Library and Information Technology) – Critical essay winner
- Ashley Alton (Bachelor of Arts) – Creative writing honourable mention
- Aimee Lundell (Bachelor of Science) – Critical essay honourable mention
- Mohammad (Fouzan) Nazir (Bachelor of Science) – Critical essay honourable mention
2022/23 Rivka Galchen’s Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch
- Susanna Woudstra (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project/design winner
- Charise Eryka Delson (Bachelor of Fine Arts – Music Theatre Performance) – Creative project winner
- Michael Imrie (Bachelor of Arts) – Creative writing winner
- Damon Pelley (Bachelor of Arts) – Critical essay winner
- Jennifer Onwudinjo (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project/design honourable mention
- Connor Thomson (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project/design honourable mention
- Aleesha Amjad (Bachelor of Fine Arts – Studio Arts) – Creative project honourable mention
- Ashley Alton (Bachelor of Arts) – Creative writing honourable mention
- Jessalyn Leblanc (Bachelor of Arts) – Creative writing honourable mention
- Ella Kryzanowski (Bachelor of Commerce) – Critical essay honourable mention
2021/22 Souvankham Thammavongsa’s How to Pronounce Knife
- Layal Zidan (Bachelor of Science) – Critical essay winner
- Derek Lantz (Bachelor of Arts) – Creative writing winner for his short story “Family Values”
- Elise Cheung (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project winner
- Rachel Blaak (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project honourable mention
- Mary Escano (Studio Arts) – Creative project honourable mention
- Thia Ma (Bachelor of Design) – Creative project honourable mention
2020/21 Iain Reid’s Foe
2019/20 Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s This Accident of Being Lost
- Melaina Goos – Creative project winner: 1. Project rationale; 2. Project posters
2018/19 Michael Crummey’s Sweetland
- Clare Wiznura – Critical essay winner
- Farah El Bakkouri – Creative writing winner
- Laura Aisenstat - Creative project winner: 1. Project explanation; 2. Project posters
- Ty Hudec – Critical essay honorable mention
- Markwell Lyon – Creative writing honorable mention
- Keira Zanbak – Creative project honorable mention
2017/18 Dionne Brand’s Love Enough
2016/17 Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven
- Rolando Bautista – Creative project winner
- Jessica Dubauskas – Critical essay winner
- Hannah DeWitt – Critical essay honorable mention
- Sharissa Johnson – Creative project honorable mention
- Janine Heber – Creative project honorable mention
- Jessica Maclean – Creative project honorable mention
2015/16 Kim Thuy’s Mãn
- Kate Lemke – Creative project winner
- Tatiana Dutka –Critical essay winner
- Nicole Bork – Creative writing winner
2014/15 Patrick Dewitt’s The Sisters Brothers
- Janelle Foreman – Creative project winner
- Miguel Macaraig – Critical essay winner
- Desiree Billey – Creative project honorable mention
- Mary Douglas – Creative project honorable mention
- Caylee McKenzie – Creative project honorable mention
- Taylor Lund – Critical essay honorable mention
- Paige Wolfe – Critical essay honorable mention
2013/14 Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse
- Jonathan Dyck – Creative project winner
- Rebecca Regan – Critical essay winner
- Elisia Snyder – Creative project honorable mention
- Paulina Van Vliet – Creative project honorable mention
- Farron Wielinga – Critical essay honorable mention
2012/13 Michael Ondaatje’s The Cat’s Table
- Carrianne Peters – Creative project winner
- Jessica Barratt – Critical essay winner
- Sam Darlington – Critical essay honorable mention
- Carrie Malin – Critical essay honorable mention
2011/12 Angie Abdou’s The Bone Cage
- Karla Weder – Critical essay winner
2010/11 Annabel Lyon’s The Golden Mean
- Kaley Pederson – Creative project winner
- Chelsea Barlow – Critical essay winner
2009/10 Stephen Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo
- Devyn Lowe – Creative project winner
- Steven Horvath – Critical essay winner
2008/09 Heather O’Neill’s Lullabies for Little Criminals
- Heather Skinner – Creative project winner
- Ariel Lekas – Critical essay winner
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