this is so incredibly cool. looking at a lot of work, there were lots of people who could have been a winner. yet, something in the four winning essays spoke to the judges who judged that category. i always have seen things that way. i remember i got awarded a $3000 Literary Fellowship for Poetry. After the contest was over, I looked and Nikki Giovanni was one of the judges. I like to think because my poetry was writing about the black experience, she spoke up for me in the decision room. I agree - Don't Hate, Congratulate. It will make you feel so much better to do it rather than focus on finding some reason why you didn't win. You didn't win because someone else did. But mostly, just get back to work, win or lose. The chance to write like this and speak to the world is too important to not do it.