Silver City, NM – On Febuary 18, Western New Mexico University English Department hosted an award ceremony for the winners from last semester’s Creative Writing Contest. The contest was separated into five categories; Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Academic Essay and Freshman Essay. The contest was prompted last semester and was open to all undergraduate Western students across the branches.
Dr. Michaelann Nelson, one of the coordinators for the event stated, “We felt that as an English Department we really wanted to start encouraging more creative writing at the University and celebrate the student’s interest in creative writing.”
Writing doesn’t have to be left to just the English majors, Kaitlin Gregory, a sophomore studying Cellular Molecular Biology, won second place in the Fiction category for her story “Rapture,” Gregory said, “ I like to write, it’s calming and helps me unwind.”
Nelson added, “We were excited about the number of people that entered the contest, it was really great to see the support for creative writing across the campus community. We had entries from about 25 different majors; from woman studies, to business, from environmental sustainability to history. It was really neat to see the interest that students have in creative writing.”
Emily Rosa, the youngest winner, is currently a junior being homeschooled and is enrolled in duel-credit, won first place in the Fiction category for her story “Stroj,” she stated, “I really like writing, it comes to me naturally, it’s fun for me, it’s what I do best.” She also added, “I think this [contest] is a wonderful opportunity for students, it allows them to practice their writing, to get out there, receive encouragement and give them motivation to continue writing.”
The English Department hopes to make this contest an annual event to help encourage students to get involved with creative writing. The judges were from the Humanities Department which comprised of Prof. John Gist, Prof. Rich Stansberger and Dr. Michaelann Nelson.
Winners for the 2014-15 Creative Writing Contest
Poetry
1st Place – Gabrielle Eyrich
“Images”, “She Sold Herself Cheaply”, “Fool’s Dress Sestina”, “Gender”
2nd Place – Nadia Nolan
“Musings”
Fiction
1st Place – Emily Rosa
“Stroj”
2nd Place – Kaitlin Gregory
“Rapture”
Creative Nonfiction
1st Place – Gabrielle Eyrich
“Gentle”
2nd Place – Daniel Eady
“Shameless in Black”
Academic Essay
1st Place – Serena Pack
“What Will Grow”
2nd Place – Alice Webb
“Pueblos: Strength ThroughTradition”
Freshman Essay
1st Place – Romeo Cruz
“Water of Life”
