Jim Luotto Literature Prize

Jim LuottoThe Jim Luotto Literature Prize provides annual awards for outstanding essays written by °®¶ą´«Ă˝ students about works of literature. 

The prize is given in honor of Jim Luotto, a for more than 30 years in the °®¶ą´«Ă˝ College English Department. 

2024 Awards

  • First prize ($300): Romie Asplund, “To Write Is To Weave: The Tapestry of Trust as Told by the Dialogic Narrator”
  • Second prize ($200): Lydia Ramirez, “More Than Close Friends” 
  • Third prize ($100): Sara Twiggs, “Who Ain’t a Slave? Landlords”

Asplund’s essay will also be published in the 2024 student edition of Red Wheelbarrow, the college's celebrated literary magazine.

Deadline to Apply

  • Please check back for the deadline to apply for 2025.

Rules for Entry

  • The prize competition is open to students who have written an essay for an English course at °®¶ą´«Ă˝ College in the past year. You can submit an essay written for class, or submit a revised or expanded version.
  • Your essay must present an analysis of one or more literary texts.
  • The essay must be a minimum of 3 pages and a maximum of 10 pages long.
  • Submit your essay along with a separate, one-page typed cover letter stating your academic and career goals.
    • Include your name, email address, mailing address and phone number.
    • Be sure to identify the course for which you wrote your essay.
  • Send your entry (essay and cover letter) to Julie Pesano, chair of the English Department Literature Committee, at pesanojulie@deanza.edu 

For more information, please contact Julie Pesano at pesanojulie@deanza.edu 

Thank You for Your Support

Prize awards come from donated funds. Please consider donating through the Foothill-De Anza Foundation. 



2023 Grand Prize Winners

  • Aiden Glennon: "Separate, But So Unequal: How Anne Bradstreet Found Power in Poetry" 
  • Jennilyn Phee: "Finding the Secrets to Your Own Universe" 
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