From Chatham Hall to Chicago

Since graduating from Chatham Hall, Carrie Midkiff ‘22 has built an impressive academic and creative writing career at the University of Chicago. This past spring, she received the Les River Fellowship for Young Novelists, the highest award presented by the university's Creative Writing Department. The fellowship includes a $5,000 grant to support the continued development and refinement of her undergraduate thesis.

Carrie's journey to the University of Chicago began while she was a student at Chatham Hall. Before enrolling, she participated in the University's Emerging Rural Leaders summer scholarship program, an experience that introduced her to the campus and community. Chatham Hall faculty members Mr. John Kingery and Dr. Mary Edmonds wrote recommendation letters for both the summer program and her college applications, encouraging her as she pursued new opportunities. This year, she also celebrated her University of Chicago graduation alongside fellow Chatham Hall alumna Velda Asare '22. Today, the Midkiff family remains connected to Chatham Hall through Carrie's younger sister, Allie Midkiff '27.

At the University of Chicago, Carrie majored in English and Creative Writing, where she immersed herself in a vibrant community of writers and scholars. She introduced acclaimed author Teju Cole during the university's annual Literary Arts Lab, gained publishing experience through internships with the University of Chicago Press and the University's Communications Office, competed in intramural sports, and played on the women's club soccer team.

The foundation for her award-winning thesis reaches back to her time at Chatham Hall. While taking Dr. Alan Spearman's advanced English science fiction course, Carrie first imagined the story that would eventually become her undergraduate thesis. Inspired by Good Omens, she reimagined the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in a future where humanity's technological advancements have rendered them obsolete. Set on a far-future Earth, the novel follows the Horsemen as they reunite on the eve of humanity's intergalactic exodus to consider their place in a world that no longer needs them.

Receiving the Les River Fellowship was especially meaningful to Carrie. After initially planning to complete two separate thesis projects, she chose to devote her full attention to her Creative Writing thesis under the mentorship of Professor Stephanie Soileau. The fellowship recognizes the strength of her work while providing funding for future opportunities, including her plans to attend a creative writing workshop in 2027 as she continues refining her manuscript.

This summer, Carrie is interning with a Cleveland nonprofit that partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide free books to children under five and promote literacy throughout Cuyahoga County. This fall, she will return to the University of Chicago to pursue a one-year Master of Arts in the Humanities with a concentration in English literature.

At Chatham Hall, Carrie found teachers who encouraged her to ask bold questions, pursue creative ideas, and believe in her own voice. The support of mentors like Mr. John Kingery, Dr. Mary Edmonds, and Dr. Alan Spearman helped shape a journey that has taken her from a classroom discussion to one of the University of Chicago's highest honors for creative writing.

As Carrie continues her graduate studies, pursues a career in publishing, and develops her novel, the Chatham Hall community is proud to celebrate her accomplishments. Her story is a reminder that the encouragement of dedicated teachers and a community that believes in its students can inspire ideas that last well beyond graduation.