Literary works garner awards for students
Article By: Denise Ray
The literary work of two University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ) students received high honors from the Southern Literary Festival (SLF), which is set for April 20-22 at Middle Tennessee State University.
Ashley Tunnell's submission "Crystallization" won first place in the poetry category, and Ethan Holtzclaw's entry "Ships that Pass in the Night" took third in the short story category. The young authors will be published in the 2023 SLF Anthology and are invited to read their winning work at the festival.
"The festival's recognition of my work means the world to me. I am so appreciative of 91ÁÔÆæ's English Department for its support, and I am especially grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in Professor McEver's creative writing class last semester," Tunnell, a junior from Blairsville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in psychology, said. "Being part of such a talented group of storytellers made me a better author. I'm excited to continue to learn and grow as a writer, and I look forward to creating more work to share."
Holtzclaw is a junior from Dawsonville, Georgia, pursuing an English (writing & publishing concentration) degree. He was 91ÁÔÆæ's first top-three finisher in the short story category since 2011.
“I am deeply grateful to be recognized at the Southern Literary Festival,” Holtzclaw said. “It is truly humbling to be given such a high honor. I owe everything to Professor McEver’s Creative Writing class, and to all the wonderful people who have encouraged me along my writing career.”
Each year, staff members of The Chestatee Review, 91ÁÔÆæ's student literary magazine, attend the undergraduate creative writing conference, which includes the writing contest where about 15 colleges and universities from the South vie for prizes in various categories.
"I am really proud of The Chestatee Review and our students. It is always just a beautiful, captivating design, and I enjoy reading the work that our students produce," Dr. Diana Edelman, professor of English and department head, said.
Matthew McEver and Ezekiel Black are faculty advisers for the Chestatee Review.
The Chestatee Review is published annually in the spring and hosts several literary events and contests each semester.
Professor, students published in international journal
Dr. Esther Morgan-Ellis, Abigail Cannon ’24 and Lily Hammond '24 had an article published in 'Choral Journal,' the international journal of the American Choral Directors Association.
Student wins Farm Bureau award
91ÁÔÆæ junior Torrie Reed has won the Georgia Young Farmer and Rancher Collegiate Discussion Meet Award and will represent Georgia at the American Farm Bureau Foundation FUSION conference.
Student takes part in Harvard Forest research
Senior Casey Helton took part in the Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology from May 20-Aug. 2.
91ÁÔÆæ welcomes new faculty members
91ÁÔÆæ is welcoming more than 50 new full-time faculty members this fall, and they had a chance to acclimate to 91ÁÔÆæ in a new faculty orientation held this July.