Rachael Wood (Staff Reporter)
Shawnee student writers were commended for their creative writing talents at the seventh annual Creative Writing Award ceremony Mar. 30 in the Ballroom of the University Center. A group of about 30 students, family, and friends enjoyed cake and coffee while celebrating the creative talent of seven writers. Dr. Neil Carpathios opened the ceremony with a joke in which a lion approaches a man with a book and one with a laptop, and then promptly eats the man with the book. The lion’s reasoning, as well as Carpathios punch line, “Because even the king of the jungle knows that readers digest and writers cramp.”
Writers took home more than certificates after this ceremony. Honorable mentions were awarded with a $25 prize, and winners were awarded with a $100 prize. Each student was presented their award, then encouraged to read their piece to the gathering of supporters.
In the category of Creative Non-fiction Anna Stevens received an honorable mention for her piece titled, “Adjusting Sails,” written to raise awareness to mental illness. This piece’s purpose is to, “open the pathways so people will be able to talk about mental illness,” Stevens said.
Cody Leightenheimer took the winning prize for his non-fiction piece titled “Clever Girl.” “By the end the reader cannot help but feel a twinge in the heart,” Dr. Carpathios commented on leightenheimer’s piece about his step-daughter and their first meeting. There were few dry eyes in the room when Cody finished reading his piece and the subject of the story ran up to him and threw her arms around him in a heartfelt embrace.
Richie Holsinger received an honorable mention for his poem titled, “Of Memories,” from a book that he proudly held, explaining that he and a friend collaborated on. Holsinger wrote poems on one page and a friend designed art to represent the poem on the following page. Kayden Johnson was awarded an honorable mention for her poem. “[This poem] intrigues, mainly due to imagery that pulses with vividness.” Carpathios said.
Erin Phillips took home the winning prize for poetry with her piece titled, “Peach Tree.” Dr. Carpathios’ introduction to the piece “makes the reader actually feel emotion for a piece of fruit.” To quote the poem, “and there it stayed, grasping for existence, hoping to be picked.”
In the category of fiction, Dane Palla received the honorable mention for his piece that “evokes real emotion and offers nuances of kindness and grace.” Carpathios said of Palla’s work. In the story (set in Portsmouth) readers followed an elderly man who loves his wife dearly and shows compassion not too familiar in this world.
The final winner, Zack Burton took home the fiction prize for his piece, “ritual Attire.” Burton read from the first eight pages of his story, and encouraged the audience to follow through when the story is printed. All of the pieces mentioned will be printed in Shawnee’s writing magazine, the Silhouette, set to come out later this spring.
The Chronicle 