The Ned Stuckey-French Nonfiction Contest, established by Southeast Review, honors the legacy of Dr. Ned Stuckey-French—a writer and advocate whose dedication to truth-telling and service to literary and labor communities continues to shape the journal's ethos. The contest seeks nonfiction that embodies his spirit: work that interrogates expectations, elevates personal experience against systemic power, and foregrounds soul, heart, and service. This is not a call for the merely confessional; it is an invitation to essays that bear witness with rigor and generosity. The judge for 2026 is Rose McLarney, a poet and essayist whose collections include Colorfast, Forage, and Its Day Being Gone (Penguin Poets), as well as The Always Broken Plates of Mountains (Four Way Books). Her newest book, Rubble Masonry (LSU Press), is a collection of lyric essays. McLarney's dual practice as poet and essayist suggests a curatorial eye for language that is both precise and resonant, and for nonfiction that navigates the porous border between the lyrical and the critical. Submissions should consist of essays up to 5,000 words. Personal identification information must not appear within the submission file, ensuring an equitable reading process. The entry fee is $16 (USD). While the prize amount is not specified in the provided information, the contest offers publication and recognition through Southeast Review, a journal with a longstanding commitment to literary excellence. The winning essay will be selected by McLarney, whose editorial sensibility promises to reward work of integrity and craft.