On Sept. 30, the College Writing Program honored the 2026 winner and finalists of the Dean James E. McLeod First-Year Writing Prize during an Emerging Voices public reading on Bowles Plaza.

Open to first-year students across WashU, the award recognizes innovative research exploring race, gender, and identity. Established in 2013 in memory of the late Dean McLeod, the prize encourages students to pursue research early in their academic careers and introduces them to writing for a broader audience. With their permission, finalists can also have their papers published in WashU’s Open Scholarship repository, allowing their research to reach readers beyond the classroom.

McLeod encouraged students to explore subjects rooted in their lived experiences, a philosophy the prize continues to uphold. His widow, Clara McLeod, remains a dedicated supporter, attending the ceremony each year and meeting the winning students.

Dima Layth, a sophomore majoring in philosophy-neuroscience-psychology,  won first prize in the Arts & Sciences category for her essay: “Desert Dreams: The Portrayal of ’Arabness’ from Feared Other to Consumable Fantasy.” She wrote the essay for a college writing course taught by Meg Gregory, senior lecturer in college writing and assistant director of the College Writing Program.

Layth’s essay examines changing perceptions of Arab identity in American culture. Originally from Baghdad, Iraq, Layth recalled her parents warning her about the dangers of wearing traditional clothing in the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In recent years, however, she has watched cultural markers such as the abaya, a traditional gown, along with certain jewelry and makeup styles, gain popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok. Her essay explores this shift and raises questions about stereotypes, women’s rights, and white guilt. 

Layth hopes winning the McLeod Prize will help challenge stereotypes and encourage readers to reconsider their perceptions of Arab identity.

“The struggles of the Arab community are often overlooked, or if they are represented, it’s by some other sort of entity, often a Western entity,  speaking on our behalf,” she said. “I’m proud if someone reads my paper and becomes more empathetic and more critical of the things they see online.”

2026 winner and finalists

First Prize: Dima Layth (Arts & Sciences) for “Desert Dreams: The Portrayal of ‘Arabness’ from Feared Other to Consumable Fantasy”   

Runner-up: Libi Horn (Arts & Sciences) for “The Essentialist Glitch: Western Individualism and the Performance of Difference in Twinship”   

Honorable Mention: Peter Chen (Arts & Sciences) for “Immigrant Identity and Roosevelt’s Two Interlocking Gates of Americanism”   

Honorable Mention: Frederick Murray (Sam Fox) for “Gun Ownership in the Queer Community: More than Just Self Defense”