English Department Recognizes 2026 Folger Adam Jr. and John L. Rainey Scholarship Award Winners

As recounted by Board Director Bob McMurray '85...

"Last night the active chapter and I hosted a wonderful event to honor our Folger Adam, Jr. (for poetry) and John L. Rainey (for fiction) Creative Writing Program 2026 prize winners: Sabrina Longo (Adam, poetry) and Lama Ghrayeb (Rainey, fiction) and our longstanding partner in the program, the University of Illinois Department of English. 

Here was the agenda for the evening, which began at 7:00pm and concluded at 7:45pm.

• Welcome (Parker Roeder '27, Special Events Chair)

• Provenance of the Folger Adam, Jr. and John L. Rainey Creative Writing Awards (Bob McMurray, Illinois Alumni Association of Alpha Delta Phi, Alumni Board Director)

  • Including the first public unveiling of the bronze memorial plaque to Folger Adam, Jr. and his poem that survived his ultimate sacrifice

• English Department's Perspectives on Creative Writing and Partnering with Alpha Delta Phi (Ted Sanders, Associate Professor of Creative Writing)

• Introductory Context on the Prize Winners including official Judge's Comments (Ted Sanders, Associate Professor of Creative Writing)

• Folger Adam, Jr. 2026 Prize Winner for Poetry, Reading of Original Works (Sabrina Longo, University of Illinois undergraduate)

  • Including poems on blueberries and raspberries told through the lens of her Italian Heritage and upbringing, and her prize-winning entry: a sestina about Sean Evans (YouTube interviewer who makes his guests eat hot chicken wings during the interview, and the University of Illinois' 2026 Commencement Address Speaker); a sestina is a 39-line poem that does not rely on rhyme, but rather on the strict repetition of six end-words (called teleutons).

• John L. Rainey 2026 Prize Winner for Fiction, Reading of Original Works (Lama Ghrayeb, University of Illinois undergraduate)

  • Including a work that served as an intermediary piece to overcoming writer's block.

• Concluding Remarks and Resounding Round of Clicks (Bob McMurray)

There was a social mingling following the conclusion of the agenda, back in the living room where everyone could view and read the plaque, replete with from-scratch chocolate chip cookies baked by my wife, Tara McMurray.

Other dignitaries in attendance were John Dudek, the English Department's Associate Director of Creative Writing, my direct liaison and partner in executing the Folger Adam, Jr. and John L. Rainey awards, Julie Price, Senior Lecturer in the English Department who was overjoyed to see that she has had two current Alpha Delts in her classes (Sean Holocek '26 and Tom Russ '28) and Tara McMurray, mathematics teacher, Nathan Hale Elementary in the Chicago Public Schools.

The event, staged in the formal living room, was greatly attended with standing room only in the foyer. There was a bit more leg room in the basement where the entire assemblage had to take refuge, midway through Ted Sanders' remarks, due to severe weather and a formal tornado warning to seek shelter exploding on everyone's phone. There is no doubt this event will be memorable and recalled at future Homecomings with "Didn't we have to go into the basement because of a tornado for that??!?". 

There were approximately 45 undergraduate brothers in attendance. Their turnout was huge, their respect for the subject matter was high, and, foremost, their engagement was real and sustained. While the prize recipients were reading their works I took a peek around the room, now and then, and observed that every single one of the Alpha Delts was riveted to the readings with wonderfully positive body language, leaning into the event. Parker and Luke Wittenborn commented to me afterwards that they heard several of the Alpha Delts say how surprised they were at how much they could enjoy poetry! 

Our guests conveyed they considered the event "awesome!" and encouraged me to continue hosting it. The undergraduate prize winners had an extremely fun time, as well. Sabrina Longo and Julie Price stayed with me, Tara, Parker, and Tom Russ for quite a while after the event had concluded - signaling that they didn't really want to leave, a true compliment on the success of the event (Sabrina even made her quadruple-sibling brother sit in his car in front of the house waiting for her for something like 20 minutes as she didn't want to leave!!)."

Here is the evening in pictures...

Panel-styled dais, for speakers, at the beginning of the event. (L->R: Bob McMurray, Lama Ghrayeb, Sabrina Longo, Ted Sanders, Parker Roeder)

Official, first-time, unveiling of the Folger Adam, Jr. poem memorial bronze plaque. Julie Price and John Dudek in foreground.

Closer view of the Folger Adam, Jr. poem memorial in bronze curated in its temporary display space.

Ted Sanders delivering his remarks. The tornado warning and directive to seek shelter is imminent.

Folger Adam, Jr. prize winner, Sabrina Longo, giving a reading of several of her poems.

John L. Rainey prize winner, Lama Ghrayeb (seated), giving a reading of several of her works.

Julie Price and John Dudek with listening Alpha Delts.

Attentive Alpha Delts during the readings (with Tom Russ at far right, front).

Based on the success of the event, including providing a meaningful literary and cultural event for our active chapter, my plan is to make this an annual, late Spring semester, event. I will be collaborating with next year's President and Spring Special Events Chair to make that happen.

--Bob McMurray '85