Robert Braddy
In the spring of 2010, Robert Braddy will complete his sophomore year at Purdue North Central.  He will earn his Associates of Science in Business degree after this summer session.  His classes at Purdue North Central have set a firm foundation for him as he transfers to main campus of Purdue University in the fall to finish his last two years of college.  In his spare time, Robert is a treasurer intern at the First United Methodist Church.  Robert also competed in a 120 mile canoe race in this past summer with the Venture Crew.  Robert was surprised when his English 102 teacher asked him to enter this contest and is honored to have received an award.

Deeb Browne
Deeb lives in LaPorte, Indiana, on a small horse ranch. She is a junior at PNC,  majoring in English, and will graduate in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. After she receives her degree, Deeb  plans on attending Valparaiso University, in pursuit of a Master of Arts in English, before moving back to Arizona.  A non-traditional student, Deeb is a 2002 graduate of Ancilla College, and from 2001-2003 worked for The Walkerton Herald newspaper. From 2001-2002, she was a correspondent for the South Bend Tribune. In the 1999 August issue of Western Horseman, Deeb’s article, “Women in Rodeo,” was published.  Deeb’s favorite past-times are riding and writing. She also  loves camping, hiking, and just about any outdoor activity that excludes snow.  Deeb has four horses, five cats, one dog, and one fiancé.

Ethan Davis
Ethan Davis is a freshman at PNC and is undecided in his major thus far.  He was born and raised in Michigan City, Indiana and graduated from Michigan City High School in 2009.  Ethan enjoys writing, design, and history and is looking to major in one of these fields. 

Cynthia DeSantiago
Cynthia, a second year student who is currently studying at PNC to become a nurse, has been branching out into new areas of art. She has studied many styles but mainly stays with either pencil or ink on simple paper. Cynthia, whose inspirations for her art are her family, friends, home, and experiences, puts her spirit into all her pieces of art for other people to see.

Jennifer Evan
Jennifer Evan will be graduating, with a Bachelors of Liberal Studies degree (Pre-Medicine concentration), at the age of 20 in 2011.  Her interests include painting landscapes and still lifes, learning languages, and traveling. She hopes to attend medical school to study neuroscience and physiology.

Lakiska Flippin
Lakiska Flippin is currently completing her prerequisites for entry into medical school; she plans to matriculate after the  Fall 2011 semester. She submitted her essay because,  considering aspartame's widespread use, she believes that people need be informed of its potential dangers. This semester, Lakiska has been conducting research as part of the Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Program, and she presented her results on April 16 at a research conference that was held at Butler University.  She has been a member of a belly-dance troupe and has completed two marathons. During her five minutes of free time every week, she likes to make silly jokes with her fiancé, Paul, or to take naps with her doggies. 

Dan Fortney
Dan is a homeschooled high school junior who has been taking dual credit classes at PNC for two years now. He enjoys mathematics, has recently taken an interest in computer programming, and  uses his spare time to work on a series of fantasy novels, which he hopes to someday publish.  In addition, Dan  has written several poems, two of which have seen publication.

Laura Gertzen
Laura is a Sophomore who recently transferred to IUN and is working toward her K-12 Visual Arts degree. Laura has a family of eight and a full time job as an administrator for an environmental consulting firm. Laura writes, “Life is full and wonderful. I sometimes try to capture those fleeting moments of beauty as they whiz by on film. Occasionally,  I'm lucky and they turn out pretty cool.”

Thomas Kuehl
Tom Kuehl, a junior at PNC, is majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology and is the President of the PNC Rotaract Club.  In 2008, he won first place for his personal narrative essay, “Stand Out and Be Counted.” Before coming to Purdue, Tom served in the US Navy for seventeen years and is now a disabled veteran.  He has been married for eighteen years to his wonderful wife, Sandi, and is a proud parent of five children.  Tom has recently become a very proud grandfather.

Amadeo Madrid
Amedeo does not consider himself a poet.  He considers himself a writer.   Amadeo is nineteen-years old and is attending PNC for unknown reasons.  His influences in writing are his father, Bob Dylan, and strange occurrences at various moments in time.  The poems that he writes have no particular meaning other than inspiration. He hopes to enter more of his work during his tenure at PNC.

David Mak
David Mak is a junior at PNC . He is a student in the College of Business, where he focuses in Management and Economics. David was born and raised in Michigan City, Indiana.  He has always been interested in storytelling and,  in his youth, experimented with filmmaking; however, it was only recently, after taking a course in creative writing, that he became interested in writing. He hopes that someday he might become an accomplished writer and get the countless stories in his head published.

Jonathon Meyers
Jonathon M. Meyers, who is a sophomore at PNC  working towards a Minor in Marketing and a BLS degree (English Concentration), hopes to teach overseas and write for as long as he is capable and imagination can run free. 

Tom Potter
Tom Potter is an English Education major and is working toward his Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education.  He lives in Chesterton, Indiana, where he enjoys spending time with family and friends.  Tom works at the Brassie Golf Course and volunteers with community projects, such as Rebuilding Together Duneland. His favorite essayist is David Sedaris.

Mark Strudas
Mark was born in Valparaiso, IN but grew up in Chesterton, IN, where he attended grade school at St. Patrick’s. He attended Chesterton High School, where he graduated as a member of the Technology Honors Society for Industrial Mechanics. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in March, 2003 and entered active duty in August of that  year. Mark served two tours in Al Taqaddum, Iraq.  He reached the rank of Corporal and earned many citations before separation. Mark is a Business Management Major at PNC.

Karen Thompson
Karen Thompson is a senior at PNC who is working toward her Bachelor of Arts in English, which she will receive in May, 2010.  She has been working in the PNC Writing Center  for three years and has been the student director for two of those years.  She is married to a wonderful man, Josh, and has a five-year old son, Liam.  Karen enjoys reading and writing in her spare time.  She hopes to pursue a career in writing novels after graduation.