Date: April 17, 2008
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

Annual PNC Writing Contest Winners Announced

WESTVILLE – The winners of the Purdue University North Central annual Student Writing Contest for the 2007-2008 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:

Personal Essay : first place – “Foof,” by Laura Brown-Rumler, Portage; second place - “Freedom in a Piece of Plastic,” by Stephany Leib, Valparaiso; third place - “Never Ending,” by Jonathon Meyers, Michigan City and “The Day I Lost My Innocence,” by Tracy Banghart, LaPorte.

English Composition Research Essay: first place - “Stand Out and Be Counted,” by Thomas Kuehl, Valparaiso; second place - “The Death with Dignity Act,” by Tracy Banghart, LaPorte.

Campus-Wide Research Essay: first place - The Use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Treating a Behavioral Excess,” by Megan Higgins, Munster; second place - “Women in Leadership Today: Trends and Opportunities,” by Megan Higgins, Munster; third place - “The Case for Terri Schiavo,” by Sara Watterson, LaPorte.

Poetry: first place - “Victory Gardens,” by Joe Cincoski, Portage; second place - “Arianna’s Kingdom,” by Kelly Daubek, Valparaiso; third place - “Pollination,” by April Hodge, LaPorte.

Short Fiction: first place “Dead but Still Alive,” by Jacqeline Michalik, Highland.

Art Contest: first place – “The Vintage Years,” Pleasant Gagaliski, Rolling Prairie; second place - “Old Bridge, Young Tree,” April Hodge, LaPorte; third place - “ Driving,” April Hodge, LaPorte and “Untitled,” Diana Esparza, Valparaiso.

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