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Dr. Phillip E. Mitchell, associate professor of English at the University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), finished in first place in an international songwriting contest.

His song "Run With A Torch" was the winner of The UK Songwriting Contest 2021 Open Category.  

"This is the first time I won," Mitchell said. "I was excited, to say the least. I'm looking forward to seeing what opportunities might come from it."

Mitchell said “Run With A Torch” was dually-inspired.

"It was at the onset of the pandemic, and I think I was singing both for myself — determined to keep creating music — and others, trying to shine light in dark times," Mitchell said. "And wanting to write an Alan Menken-type song after binging 'Galavant.' I grew up watching the Disney resurgence animated films and also love musicals. That theatrical side has often come out in my music."

In addition to the win, Mitchell placed four times in the finals, twice under his real name in the retro category and twice under his pseudonym, Jefferson Hyll (one in the crisis category and one in the indie category).