24 Talented Students Honored for Original Writing
Manchester, Conn., – (December 17, 2008). . . Manchester Community College is pleased to announce the 24 winners of its annual Student Writing Contest. The following students received awards for their exceptional writing:
Personal Essay
First Place – J. Ashley Odell of Manchester, “How I Learned to Read (and Think and Learn)”
Second Place – Jason Cunningham of Stafford Springs, “Ending the Cycle of Abuse”
Expository Essay
First Place – Joe Alasso of Wethersfield, “Why Caroline Bird’s Essay, ‘College is a Waste of Time and Money’ Isn’t for Everyone”
Second Place – Rayion Sawyers of South Windsor, “The Politics of Food”
Third Place – Barbara Benson of East Hartford, “The Long Walk Home”
Research Paper
First Place – Sylvia Abbott of Windsor, “Pediatric Palliative Care: Holistic Support for Patients and their Families”
Second Place – Amanda Gonsalves of Manchester, “Home Sweet Zoo?”
Literary Criticism
First Place – Siobahn Kinney of Colchester, “Poe’s Adaptation of Popular Genres in ‘Ligeia’ and ‘The Black Cat’ ”
Second Place – Nicole Marozzi of East Hartford, “Understanding the Outsider”
Third Place – Chris Clark of East Hampton, “Personal Truth in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome”
Honorable Mention – J. Ashley Odell of Manchester, “Going Beyond the Popular Form: Edgar Allen Poe and Dark Romanticism”
Honorable Mention – Christina Smith of Colchester, “This Idiot’s Guide to Life, Wrested from the Genius of Wilder and Tolstoy”
Honorable Mention – Chetan Patel of Glastonbury, “The Man Behind the Man”
Fiction
First Place – Cynthia Roberts-Diaz of Newington, “Wounds”
Second Place – Joseph Skelding of Manchester, “Sage and Prayers”
Third Place – Molly Mitzman of Vernon, “Ritual”
Honorable Mention – Kristina Cedrone of Manchester, “In the Driveway”
Honorable Mention – Jeff Pinto of Manchester, “With a Fake Smile”
Humor John Gustavson Prize for Humor in Writing
First Place – Amy Grigitis of Enfield, “Newbie Nudists”
Poetry
First Place – Elizabeth Szewczyk of Enfield, “Birth”
Second Place – Vivianne Grabinski of Enfield, “White on White”
Third Place – Brian Lalama of Wethersfield, “A Reason for Sound”
Honorable Mention – Andrew King of South Windsor, “Wet Pavement, 4:05 a.m.”
Honorable Mention – Kevin Kelly of Hartford, “People Who Work at Rest Stops”
Honorable Mention – Nicole Marella of Ellington, “Wannabe”
The writing contest was open to all MCC students enrolled during the 2007-2008 school year. More than 50 entries were submitted for original writing in categories including: personal essays, expository essays, literary criticism, research paper, short story and poetry. Winning entries in the poetry and short story category may be published in Shapes, MCC’s literary magazine.
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Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The College offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. MCC is situated on a park-like campus and is easily accessible from I-84.
