2009 UMD Writing Awards

Tonight I had a new experience; I attended a writing awards ceremony. This was a first for me. The University of Michigan-Dearborn held the 2009 UMD Writing Awards on September, 30th, located in the CASL building (auditorium reception room 1030.)

The event began with a reception at 4:30 PM. The reception was a time to “meet and greet” writing program faculty, award recipients, students, families, and invited guests. The reception also offered a table of refreshments to all participants and guests. There was a choice of cookies, powdered donuts, and sweet apple cider, which seemed appropriate for the autumn windy day.

After enjoying refreshments everyone trickled into the auditorium to be seated for the readings and awards presentation portion of the evening. The auditorium was small, with seating room for approximately 150 people. Sadly, the room was only one-third full. Although a small turn out, the attendees were excited and happy to share in the accomplishments of the recognized writers. I saw a child as young as 8 years old applauding vigorously when his mother accepted her award.

The UMD writing awards is a yearly event held to promote and recognize excellence in writing among undergraduates. The writing awards ceremony was facilitated by Professor P.F. Potvin. A warm welcome was received by all as members of the UMD writing program thanked the students for working diligently and for having the courage to put forward their work.

The following categories were recognized: Poetry-Fiction, Research Writing-Creative Non-Fiction, Writing and Multiple Media-Writing in the Public Sphere, First-Year Writing, Honors Writing, and Scientific/Technical Writing. Each category awarded first, second, and third place winners.

Some award winners accepted their awards confidently and read excerpts of their work. Others shyly accepted their award and quietly sat down, leaving only their writing titles shared. One young man who received second place for his poem entitled, “Tornado Township,” shared his poem and displayed a visual of his typed words forming a tornado twisting on paper.

One woman accepting a first place award in the category Creative Non-Fiction read her piece. She read quietly and sheepishly in a surprisingly flat monotone manner. I struggled to hear her. It was evident her words on paper came more alive than the words spoken from her lips.

There was a wide variety of writing styles, topics, and perspectives shared by all of the talented writers. Many powerful words were created and read by the universities finest writers. Congratulations are in order to all winners of the 2009 University of Michigan-Dearborn writing awards:


Fiction
Lauren Crawford “Swing on the Spiral”
Stephanie Bizek “The Trunk”
Holly Carlisle “Point of No Return”


Poetry
Amal Algahmi “Hitchhiker”
Carl J. Garfield “TornadoTownship”
Klodiana Myftiu “He and I”


Research Writing (two first-place winners)
Melissa Buffenn “Examining Race Through Behavioral Genetics”
Lauren Crawford “Winding the Toy of Morality: Defining the Existential and Hedonistic Morality of Anthony Burgess’ ‘A Clockwork Orange’ “
Fallon Thigpen “Infant Baptism and Heart Renewal in Charles Kingley’s ‘The Water Babies’ “

Creative Non-Fiction
Cristi Scott “What Were You Thinking”
Stephanie Hymes “Socially Challanged”
Angelica Brown “Pretty Girls Make Graves”

First –Year Writing
Casaundra Hendricks “The Languages I Speak”
Zack Gielow “Schools Call the Shots”
Shahnaz Khan “Social Media vs. Traditional Media”
*Honorable Mention- Klodiana Myftiu “Albanian Americans: A Mix of Two Worlds”

Honors Writing
Emma Slonina “Mixed Motivations: Adolf Eichmann’s Relationship with Anti-Semitism”

The ceremony was concluded with all award recipients gathering together for a group picture. Warm smiles were bright and a sense of pride filled the air as cameras flashed to capture the moment. Each recipient also received a keepsake pen. I am sure many new pieces of excellent writings will be written with those pens.