On April 25, the winners of the 2025 River Rat Writing Prize and Mischief Arts Prize winners were announced. With her work “Ain’t Nothin’ But Fireworks,” junior Victoria Wilkinson won first place for the 2025 River Rat Prize Writing Contest. 

Initially, Wilkinson’s piece was not created for the contest, instead, during a road trip during spring break. 

“‘Ain’t Nothin’ but Fireworks’ wasn’t necessarily created to submit to the River Rat Writing Prize,” Wilkinson said, “In all honesty, it was the product of a road trip through the Appalachian mountains, boredom, and a really really good album over the course of spring break.”

With knowledge of the contest, Wilkinson decided to submit her writing piece. 

“After I finished the story, I already knew about the River Rat Writing Prize, and decided to submit it to the contest because I thought to myself, ‘why not?’” Wilkinson said.
When winners of the 2025 River Rat Writing Prize contest were announced, realizing she had won the contest, Wilkinson was surprised. 

“I didn’t expect anything when I submitted to the contest, so when I opened my phone early morning on the 25th to see an email detailing I won, I was very surprised to say the least,” Wilkinson said, “But after the initial shock wore down, I felt very honored to receive the award.” 

For Wilkinson, an important part of writing was not the result, but more the process in doing so. 

 “In general I love the process of writing,” Wilkinson said, “The creation of characters and coming up with their respective voices, thinking of plot lines and ‘how can I level this up,’ then drafting and editing are truly some of my favorite pastimes.”