Annual PNC Writing Contest Winners Announced

Portals winning (front-cover) artwork by Tacy Fletcher

WESTVILLE – The winners of the Purdue University North Central annual Student Writing Contest for the 2005-2006 year have been announced by Robert Mellin, continuing lecturer of English and director of the writing contest. The winning entries are published in Portals, the annual PNC student literary journal.

The contest judging teams included faculty, staff as well as students. The winners are:

English Composition - Non-Research Paper: first place – Fabiana Araújo, Valparaiso, “Seeds of Life;” second place – Rachel Maxin, Chesterton, “Accepting Laura.”

English Composition – Persuasive or Research Paper: first place - Karen Rachel Zimmerman, Rolling Prairie, “Perception as Deep as a Mirror: A Look at Human and Nonhuman Relationships;” second place - Laura Merkner, Portage, “Children of Television;” third place - Tim Bruce, Michigan City, “Principle Divisions.”

Research Paper: first place - Anthony Underwood, Valparaiso, “Class in a ‘Classless’ Society;” second place - Bradley T. Dimmitt, Westville, “Abraham Lincoln: Emancipator or Proclaimer? Debating His History;” third place – Tim Bruce, Michigan City, “Hollywood, Americans, and the Jerry Springer Mentality.”

Personal Essay: first place - Eugene Maines, Westville, “Dad’s Cancer Battle;” second place – Brenda Patterson, Valparaiso, “Now That I am Gone…;” third place – Laura Merkner, Portage, “Summer Tears.”
Poetry: first place - Kriss Tumbleson, Westville, “Mary;” second place - Danielle Weinhold, Valparaiso, “A Working Man’s Prayer;” third place - Danielle Weinhold, Valparaiso, “The Sun as We the Soul;” and Joe Neal, Valparaiso, “I Need a Smoke.”

Short Fiction: first place - Benjamin Starkey, Valparaiso, “Morbid Angel;” second place - Polly Wainwright, Porter “Cake Story.”

The John J. Pappas Literary Essay Award: first place - Sylvia Fry, Chesterton, “Langston Hughes: A True Harlem Renaissance Poet;” and Belinda Wheeler, Westville, “Valuable Lessons Learned Through an Outsider’s Eyes: The Poetry of Lola Ridge and Judith Wright.”

Artwork: first place - Julie Wallschlager, Porter; second place and front cover – Tacy Fletcher, LaPorte; third place - Benjamin Starkey, Valparaiso.

Web Design: first place - Joyce Taylor, Kingsford Heights.

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