Literary Awards
Suzan Odabasi
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: News
The English Department has once again awarded student-writers from across the curriculum on Thursday, April 25. Community members came together to hear a renown author, Mr. Charles Baxter, a key-note speaker of the event, and celebrate those who have shown talent and discipline in their writing endeavors over the past school year. After an introduction by Laurie MacDiarmid, associate professor of English, Baxter addressed the audience in the full Fort Howard Theatre.
He opened his reading of passages from several of his books asking, "What would happen if you had a mentally-deranged substitute teacher in fifth grade?" He then dived into a scene in which this teacher tells her students about the way she sees the world. Using unusual images and captivating language, Baxter managed to take the audience into the classroom with him. The scene ends with a powerful statement, when the teacher tells the students to never be afraid to die, because everything changes its shape into other earthly forms. When Baxter closed the book, he said with an arch smile, "I have read that story so often; I can almost recite it from memory." He read three more scenes, all different in imagery and events, but carrying the same underlying themes: the supernatural, hope and belief, and the mysterious nature of life. Baxter had his characters speak and share their own views on how to be human beings, and earned a generous applause from the literature fans in the room.
Following his readings, Baxter assisted MacDiarmid in announcing this year's award winners. He extended his congratulations to all those who submitted work for evaluation and stated that "any effort in literature is noble."
The following students received Literary Awards:
(first place: $300, second place: $100)
- Critical Essay
1. Paul Utterback
2. Allie Skibbie
- Poetry
1. Paul Strickler
2. Kalin Le Brun, Jay Seymour
- Creative Prose
1. Stu Ninabuck
2. Katie Pierre
- English Endowed Scholarship (approximately $1000)
Davide Toffolon
- Mary McHale Wood Award ($1000)
Paul Utterback
The ceremony ended with the famous Mac Awards, established and presented by MacDiarmid. She wrote poems for the two recipients, Magdalynn O'Leary and Olivia Tracyk, and awarded them with books and gift certificates she had picked out for them.
He opened his reading of passages from several of his books asking, "What would happen if you had a mentally-deranged substitute teacher in fifth grade?" He then dived into a scene in which this teacher tells her students about the way she sees the world. Using unusual images and captivating language, Baxter managed to take the audience into the classroom with him. The scene ends with a powerful statement, when the teacher tells the students to never be afraid to die, because everything changes its shape into other earthly forms. When Baxter closed the book, he said with an arch smile, "I have read that story so often; I can almost recite it from memory." He read three more scenes, all different in imagery and events, but carrying the same underlying themes: the supernatural, hope and belief, and the mysterious nature of life. Baxter had his characters speak and share their own views on how to be human beings, and earned a generous applause from the literature fans in the room.
Following his readings, Baxter assisted MacDiarmid in announcing this year's award winners. He extended his congratulations to all those who submitted work for evaluation and stated that "any effort in literature is noble."
The following students received Literary Awards:
(first place: $300, second place: $100)
- Critical Essay
1. Paul Utterback
2. Allie Skibbie
- Poetry
1. Paul Strickler
2. Kalin Le Brun, Jay Seymour
- Creative Prose
1. Stu Ninabuck
2. Katie Pierre
- English Endowed Scholarship (approximately $1000)
Davide Toffolon
- Mary McHale Wood Award ($1000)
Paul Utterback
The ceremony ended with the famous Mac Awards, established and presented by MacDiarmid. She wrote poems for the two recipients, Magdalynn O'Leary and Olivia Tracyk, and awarded them with books and gift certificates she had picked out for them.
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