Freshman writing contest yields five winners

Throughout the year, the English and Foreign Languages Department at Winston-Salem State University sponsors many activities and events. During the fall (as in the spring), the department holds a “mix and mingle” session with its majors and minors. This gives students a chance to spend time with their academic advisors and professors outside of the classroom. The department has sponsored many speakers from Anthony Bowden, cultural historian and internationally recognized author and publisher, to Dr. Cedric Carl Dent, baritone, vocalist, arranger, producer and member of the group Take Six.Among these speakers and programs, the department sponsors a speech contest that is held in the spring. This year the theme was “Souls of Black Folk: Centennial Reflections.” Students from different majors were given the opportunity to display their oratory skills at 2 p.m. April 15 at the First Freshman Writing Contest. This contest was open to freshmen who were deemed by professors as outstanding writers. Faculty members submitted student essays in each of the five categories emphasized in first year writing courses. The winner in each category received a cash prize of $20, a voucher that can be used in the student union/eatery or the faculty dining room, and, most importantly, a chance to have their essays published on the department Web page.The names of the student authors were taken off the papers so that a panel of English professors could read these essays as anonymous texts. Out of 55 entries, the five winners are: In the Narrative category, the winner was: Evelyn Robinson-“Loving Trouble”In the Descriptive category, the winner was: Marisela G. Hairston-“Soul Mate”In the Expository category, the winner was: Lisa Boone-“The Professor with a Writer’s Heart”In the Argumentative/Persuasive category, the winner was: Shannon Jones-“John Q”In the Critical Analysis category, the winner was: Kristen Cheatwood-“Motifs of Light and Darkness”