George Konell Award
In 2025, the George Konell Prize of the State Capital of Wiesbaden, a literature prize for pupils, was awarded once again. The award ceremony took place on November 19, 2025.
Ellen Benner was awarded the George Konell Prize 2025 for the story "Greeting to Humanity". The recognition prizes went to Fin Grech Hellermann for the text "Vergangen" and Lea Weygandt for the poem "Ich wachse".
The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 19 at the Literaturhaus Villa Clementine. Head of Cultural Affairs Dr. Hendrik Schmehl awarded the prizes and the texts were read by actress Eva-Maria Damasko. Pupils from the Wiesbaden Music and Art School provided the musical backdrop to the evening. The jury is made up of bookseller Elke Deichmann, publisher Brigitte Forßbohm, journalist Mara Pfeiffer, painter and former teacher Ulrich Poessnecker and Zoe Lara Löhmann (winner 2023).
The literature prize for pupils in years nine to 13 at Wiesbaden schools is awarded every two years. A self-written prose text, short story or essay can be submitted for the competition. The text should demonstrate a confident, sensitive and creative use of the German language. A topic is not specified. The text should not exceed five pages. The prize is endowed with 500 euros as well as a recognition prize for the runner-up.
About the sponsorship award
The George Konell Prize has been awarded since 1997 and was donated by Ilse Konell, the widow of Wiesbaden-based poet George Konell. The writer, who died in 1991, spent many decades of his life in Wiesbaden.
Former award winners
| 1997 | Bernd Beber "Light and Darkness" |
| 2001 | Janina Schmidt "Dark Pages" |
| 2003 | Nele Prinz "Missed Opportunity" |
| 2005 | Nicolas Jacobs "Street Queen" |
| 2007 | Mila Hosny "Barn Owl" |
| 2009 | Anja Lobbenmeier "Friday Afternoon" |
| 2011 | Katharina Korbach "In the final effect" |
| 2013 | Arian Abdollahie "Sleepwalker" |
| 2015 | Luise Heyde-Schulte "The sky burned turquoise" |
| 2017 | Lina-Marie Brandes "Somewhere in between" |
| 2019 | Aaron Bitzer "Rendezvous" |
| 2021 | Clara Wendel "Foreign body" |
| 2023 | Zoe Lara Löhmann "Hätte" |
| 2025 | Ellen Benner "Greeting to humanity" |