2014
Blinn – Schulenburg names winners of Emerging Writers Contest
Eight young scribes earn recognition for academic writing, fiction, non-fiction and poetry
Eight Blinn College – Schulenburg students were recognized for their writing in the College’s third annual Emerging Writers Contest.
Students were selected based on their work in academic writing, fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
Zachary Denny (Weimar) placed first and Michelle Holub (Moulton) was second in academic writing, Madison Becka (La Grange) placed first and Kristen Chilek (La Grange) was second in fiction, Paula Cunningham (Schulenburg) was first and Jessa Iles (La Grange) placed second in non-fiction and Kelli Reierson (La Grange) placed first and Tye Siptak (La Grange) was second in poetry.
Becka, Chilek, Reierson and Siptak are members of Blinn’s Dual Credit Program, which allows students to take college courses both for high school and collegiate credit. Beginning in the summer following their sophomore year, high school students may take as many as two dual-credit courses each semester.
“This year’s entries were so fun to read,” said contest judge Beth Wiseman. “Blinn College writers are so creative and so much of what they conveyed I could feel and picture.”
This marks the third year Wiseman has judged the contest. A resident of Fayette County, Wiseman has written 23 novels and is best known for her work on the Daughters of Promise series. She has been listed on the Christian Booksellers and Evangelical Christian Publishers Association bestseller list. To date, she has sold 1.5 million books.
The contest, open to current and dual-credit students who have taken a course on the Schulenburg campus within the last academic year, was sponsored by Cengage Learning. In 2013, Cengage Learning honored two winners by featuring their work as models of superb student writing.
“We have such a variety of students who submit their work, from our traditional students who are right out of high school, to our dual credit students, to mothers who are returning to school to earn their degree,” said English Professor Audrey Wick. “It’s a really big honor for our students.”
Blinn – Schulenburg offers a variety of academic transfer, workforce training and continuing education classes to fit the needs of any student. Registration is now available for the Summer I, Summer II and Fall semesters. For information on course offerings and student registration call 979-743-5200.
ACADEMIC WRITING
First place: Zachary Denny, Weimar
Second place: Michelle Holub, Moulton
FICTION
First place: Madison Becka, La Grange
Second place: Kristen Chilek, La Grange
NON-FICTION
First place: Paula Cunningham, Schulenburg
Second place: Jessa Iles, La Grange
POETRY
First place: Kelli Reierson, La Grange
Second place: Tye Siptak, La Grange
“This year’s entries were so fun to read,” said award-winning author and celebrity contest judge Beth Wiseman “Blinn College writers are so creative, and so much of what they conveyed I could feel and picture.”
“These winners,” Wiseman continued, “are the stand-outs. Congratulations!”
This year’s contest is proudly sponsored by Cengage Learning