Alejandra Santana wins the Owens Scholarship

Published or Revised April 15, 2010

Student awards and scholarships were presented at the 35th annual Creative Awards ceremonies 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, and expressed how gratifying it is to see so many students enter all the various categories of this annual awards event. PJC English instructor Marsha Dennis introduced Margaret Ruff, the keynote speaker. Ruff is the director of public relations and marketing at Paris Junior College. Ruff addressed the audience on "Creative Careers for Creative People." "Your gift of creativity allows other people to perceive things as you see them," she said. She encouraged everyone to search for a place to gain experience in their choice of career pursuits. Highlighting the event was the presentation of the William A. Owens Scholarship for creative writing to Alejandra Santana of Sulphur Springs. Andy Pickles of Sulphur Springs received the Outstanding Student in English. Klarissa Wilson of Sumner was awarded the Outstanding Student in Foreign Language. The Outstanding Student in English as a Second Language award was given to Viviana Van Deaver of Paris. Patrick Graham, publisher of [i]The Paris News[/i], presented [i]The Paris News[/i] Journalism Scholarship to Quentin Carpenter of Honey Grove. Carpenter was sports editor of the PJC student newspaper, [i]The Bat[/i]. Stephanie Norman of Paris, co-editor of [i]The Bat[/i], was named Journalism Student of the Year. Maria Rosas of Powderly was awarded the Rebecca Fitch Award as the Outstanding Freshman Art Student along with a scholarship. "Swingers of Birches," an anthology of the prize-winning entries published annually 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 include: [b]Argumentative and informative essay:[/b] 1st place, Shirley Perkins, Paris, "Everything, One Thing, and Nothing"; 2nd place, Basel Musharbash, Paris, "The Responsibility of Privilege"; 3rd place, Shannon Burrows, Paris, "My Grandmother"; 4th place, Parker Tibbets, Pattonville, "Native Americans". Honorable mention, Elizabeth Shaw, Cooper, "Heroes of Today"; Chet Norment, Paris, "Respecting the World Around Us". [b]Narrative essay:[/b] 1st place, Elizabeth Shaw, Cooper, "Softball Fields"; 2nd place, Caroline Chappell, Bagwell, "Carpe Diem"; 3rd place, Parker Tibbets, Pattonville, "The Best Sandwich". Honorable mention, Rita Davis, Hugo, "To Ringling and Back", Colby Clem, Sulphur Springs, "The Life Changer". [b]Poetry:[/b] 1st place, Leslie Creacy, Powderly, "Who Needs Fairy Tales"; 2nd place, Sonia Loewen, Honey Grove, "Hope"; 3rd place, Cheyenne Duke, Sulphur Springs, "Good Boyfriend Spell"; 4th place, Rita Davis, Hugo, "Summer Skies Brewing". Honorable mention: Juan Delgado, Sulphur Springs, "Spell to Winning a Ball Game"; Parker Tibbets, Pattonville, "Rain". [b]Regional literature:[/b] 1st place, Will Henderson, Paris, "Home Sweet Home"; 2nd place, Ellen Temple, Paris, "Big Name, Small Town"; 3rd place, Christina Gunlock, Bonham, "Turner Falls Adventure"; 4th place, Sonia Loewen, Honey Grove, "Bonjour Y'all". Honorable mention: Houston Scott, Reno, "Paris, Texas"; Sabrina Tan, Paris, "Paris". [b]Research essay with documentation:[/b] 1st place, Ellen Temple, Paris, "A Beautiful Strength"; 2nd place, Alec Bawcum, Paris, "Heart of Darkness"; 3rd place, Sabrina Tan, Paris, "Dimmesdale's Facade"; 4th place, Sabre Standifer,Paris, "Gult and Sin in the Public Eye". Honorable mention: James Holder, Sulphur Springs, "Businesses Tracking Employee Web Use"; Brittany Whaler, Sulphur Springs, "The Language of Lies". [b]Short story:[/b] 1st place, Jamie Compton, Paris, "Sunkissed"; 2nd place, Katlin Willcut, Quinlan, "Fall Into Nothingness"; 3rd place, Sonia Loewen, Honey Grove, "The Decision"; 4th place, Brittany Whaley, Sulphur Springs, "Voices From the Sea". Honorable mention: Zachary Branch, Sumner, "Burnt"; Parker Tibbets, Pattonville, "A Bright New City". [b]Painting:[/b] 1st place, Isabel Torres, Paris, Self Portrait, Oil on Canvas; 2nd place, Pat Browning, Paris, Still Life, Oil on Canvas; 3rd place, Isabel Torres, "Wow Hearts" Oil on Canvas. Honorable mention, Pat Browning, Still Life, Oil on Canvas. [b]Drawing:[/b] 1st place, Maria Rosas, Powderly, "Figure with Urn" Charcoal on Paper; 2nd place, Kaylee Berrett, Cooper, "Figure", Charcoal on Paper; 3rd place, Kaylee Berrett, "Figure" Charcoal on Paper. Honorable mention: Bren Dollins, Arthur City, "Figure" Charcoal on Paper, Maria Rosas, "Negative Space" and "Lucy", Charcoal on Paper. [b]Photography:[/b] 1st place, Jack Herrington, Clarksville, "Untitled"; 2nd place, Sandra Taylor, Paris, "Mossy Oak"; 3rd place, Jenn Hollje, Paris, "One Step at a Time". Honorable mention: Tracy McCutcheon, Bonham, "House"; Sandra Taylor, "Fairyland"; Michael Weber, Bonham, "Sunrise"; Ginger Foster, Bogata, "First Day"; Jennifer Jacks, Antlers, "Hanging Out"; Chinah Horner, Honey Grove, "If I were a Painter"; Katie Byrd, Cooper, "My Brother's Keeper"; Katie Byrd, "Secret Door"; Jeremy Wilson, Blossom, "Frozen"; Laurie Trapp, Paris, "Honor"; Shirley Perkins, Brownwood, "Reflections"; Jack Herrington, "Chair"; Beverleigh Carpenter, Paris, "Eagle Tree". [b]Prints:[/b] 1st place, Chris Crouch, Paris, "Untitled", Corel Paint; 2nd place, Gena Hedgpath, Blossom, "Recycle Poster", Adobe InDesign. [b]3-D Design:[/b] 1st place, Shawn Matthews, Dallas, "Dallas Skyline Series", silver man's ring; 2nd place, Taylor Caldwell, Paris, "White Hat", porcelain and oxide ceramic; Kris Jones, Paris, "V is for Flying", stoneware vase. Honorable mention: Cindy Justis, Paris, stem vase, Shawn Matthews, "Dallas Skyline Series", broach. [b]2-D Design:[/b] 1st place, Andy Johnson, Paris, "Mythical Beast", Adobe Illustrator; 2nd place, Dillon Dingman, Paris, "Spaghetti Head", colored pen; 3rd place, Maria Rosas, Powderly, "Mythical Beast", Adobe Illustrator. Honorable mention: Markiest Smith, Dallas, "Mythical Beast", Adobe Illustrator; Isabel Torres, Paris, "Radial Design", Adobe Illustrator.