2012 Creative Writing & Arts winners honored
Published or Revised April 19, 2012
Creative writing and arts were celebrated at Paris Junior College on Wednesday with the “Swingers of Birches” awards ceremony. Top winners included, from the left: Journalism Student of the Year, Christina Gunlock of Bonham, Texas; Outstanding Student in English, John J. Kidwell of Hugo, Okla.; Outstanding Artist, Candra Wyatt of Paris; The Paris News scholarship, David Dannheim of Powderly, Texas; Outstanding Student in Foreign Language, Ingeborg Heijilgers of Cumby, Texas; and Outstanding Student in English as a Second Language. Edith Ramirez of Greenville, Texas.
Student awards and scholarships were presented at the 37th annual Creative Writing and Arts ceremonies held Wednesday at Paris Junior College. The awards were begun in 1976 to encourage and recognize student writing, and later broadened to include art.
Paris Junior College President Dr. Pamela Anglin welcomed the students, friends and family members.
"This event signals that we are near the end of another year and gives us the opportunity to recognize the very talented students we have here at Paris Junior College," she said.
J.D. Davidson, publisher of [i]The Paris News[/i] and keynote speaker, told the crowd that although writers think that more words are always better in reality fewer are better.
"Fewer has greater impact," he said. "Creativity is useless if it's lost in words." "There will always be a place for newspapers to share the message, rally communities, and improve the lives of people in the stories told."
Christina Gunlock of Bonham, Texas, is the Journalism Student of the Year. Christina serves as editor of [i]The Bat[/i], the PJC student newspaper.
The Outstanding Student in English is John J. Kidwell of Hugo, Okla. Ingeborg Heijligers of Cumby, Texas, is the Outstanding Student in Foreign Language. The Outstanding Student in English as a Second Language is Edith Ramirez of Greenville, Texas.
[i]The Paris News[/i] scholarship was awarded to David Dannheim of Powderly, Texas.
Candra Wyatt of Paris was recognized as Outstanding Artist and received a scholarship.
"Swingers of Birches," an anthology of the prize-winning entries published by the Communications and Fine Arts Division and produced by the PJC Print Shop, was distributed at the reception following the awards ceremony. To receive a copy, contact the English Department.
An exhibit of winning art works is on display in the lobby of the J.R. McLemore Student Center on the college campus through the end of April. Viewing hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.
Winners by category are listed below.
Narrative Essay: 1st, "Dark World," Cortney Stewart of Powderly, Paris High School; 2nd, "The Treasure Chest," Jack Elliott of Paris, PJC; 3rd, "Healing Window," Jessica Cannon of Paris, PJC; 4th, "Grandpa," Emily Bart of Paris, PJC. Honorable mention, "The Beautiful Truth," Nathan Kip Johnston of Hugo, PJC, and "Am I Dreaming," Quniqwa Garnes of Paris, PJC. Judge was Boyd Minner, Jr., Professor Humanities Division, Navarro College.
Poetry: 1st, "The Man," Laura Shelton of Commerce, Bland High School; 2nd, "Open Doors," Travis L. Allan of Dike, PJC - Sulphur Springs Center; 3rd, "La rosse du Matin," Riede Faires of Paris, PJC; 4th, "The Race," Kelly Rumsey of Sulphur Springs, North Hopkins High School. Honorable mention, "This Timeworn Trial," Rhiannon Chambers of Paris, Paris High School and "Lost Father," Amanda Bisenius of Sulphur Springs, North Hopkins High School. Judge was Tom Irwin, Adjunct Professor University of Illinois.
Regional Literature: 1st, "Blue," David Dannheim of Powderly, PJC; 2nd, "Goodbye," Jessica Cannon of Paris, PJC; 3rd, "Paris, Texas (B)," Will Whitaker of Paris, Paris High School; 4th, "Paris, Texas (C)," Marisssa Hamra of Paris, Paris High School. Honorable mention: "Paris, Texas (A)," Rhiannon Chamber of Paris, Paris High School and "Paris (E)," Daron Williamson of Paris, Paris High School. Judge was Kaitlin Ammon, Site Manager; Texas Historical Commission -- Sam Bell Maxey State Historic Site.
Argumentative/Informative Essay: 1st, "An Argument Against Abortion," Emily Bart of Paris, PJC; 2nd, "Frederick Douglas," Rita Renee Davis of Arthur City, PJC; 3rd, "Should Creationism be Taught in Public Schools," Cameron David of Paris, PJC; 4th, "For Education, or For Babies?," Tiera Easter of Paris, Paris High School. Honorable mention: "Pride in Serving," Kealy McPherson of Sulphur Springs, North Hopkins High School and "Capital Punishment: Just for the Unjust," David Terrell of Paris, Paris High School. Judge was Chet Hillyer, Veterans Counselor (retired); U.S. Navy Career Recruiter Force Academy.
Research Essay With Documentation: 1st, "I'll Never Fall Apart Because I Never Fall Together," Rhiannon Chambers of Paris, Paris High School; 2nd,"Dimmesdale's Difficulties Overshadow Hester's Hardships," Will Whitaker of Paris, Paris High School, 3rd, "Shakespeare's Banquo," Cortney Stewart of Powderly, Paris High School; 4th, "The Mind of Darkness," Emily R. Mason of Paris, Paris High School. Honorable mention: "Sponge Bob Square Pants: Harmful or Beneficial," Kelly Rumsy of Sulphur Springs, North Hopkins High School and "Hypocrisy of Arthur Dimmesdale," Tiera Eaaster of Paris, Paris High School. Judge was Shawn Williams, Publisher/Editor, "Dallas South News."
Short Story: 1st, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," Olivia Palomares of Paris, Paris High School; 2nd, "Sir Astanus, Knight of Heartbreak," Samantha Weeks of Sulphur Springs, North Hopkins High School; 3rd, "Candy Hearts," Krystin Krodle of Cumby, Cumby High School; 4th, "The Face in the Mirror," Courney Stewart of Powderly, Paris High School. Honorable mention: "Grey and White," Graham Casey of Celeste, Celeste High School and "Moments of Impact," Adilene Herrera of Paris, Paris High School. Judge was Kelly Turner, Director of Youth Ministries, Calvary United Methodist Church.
Visual Arts winners are listed below.
Two-Dimensional Design: 1st, James Carey of Reno; 2nd, Candra Wyatt of Paris; 3rd, Jessica Guajardo of Sulphur Bluff. Honorable mention: Candra Wyatt, James Carey, and Mario Munguia of Paris.
3-Dimensional Design: 1st, Candra Wyatt, 2nd, David Malicoat of Deport; 3rd, James Carey. Honorable mention: Ben Bement of Commerce.
Painting: 1st, Candra Wyatt, 2nd, Fancy Woods of Paris; 3rd, Michael Thacker of Paris. Honorable mention: Fancy Woods, Michael Thacker, and James Carey.
Drawing: 1st, Brian Parks of Avery; 2nd, Victoria Gribble of Paris; 3rd, Holly Banks of Paris. Honorable mention: Holly Banks, Clayton Thomas of Blossom; and Candra Wyatt.
Photography: 1st, Tasha Johnson of Paris; 2nd, Debbie France of Dike; 2rd, Fancy Woods. Honorable mention: Fancy Woods, Robert Giberson of Sumner; and Debbie France.
Photography Level II: 1st, Montel Thomas of Paris; 2nd, Jessica Guajardo; 3rd, Montel Thomas. Honorable mention: Devin Withers of Paris, Holly Banks, and Henry Hickman of Ardmore, Okla.
Photography Level III: 1st, Frank Ray of Paris; 2nd, Joe R. Jackson of Paris; 3rd, Sandra Kay Taylor of Paris. Honorable mention: Frank Ray, Joe Jackson and Sandra Taylor.