Phoenix College Students Win in District Creative Writing Contest

Phoenix College students Sandra Yee, Karen Legg and Ray Carns were recently awarded scholarships for their creative writing endeavors as part of the 2009 annual Maricopa Community Colleges Creative Writing Competition.

Each year, students from the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges enter the District-sponsored writing competition that encourages and recognizes student writers and promotes literary excellence. Scholarships are awarded for first, second, third place and honorable mention in the categories of Poetry, Fiction, Essay and One-Act Play/Script. Scholarship awards are $300 for first place, $200 for second, $150 for third and $100 for honorable mention.

Yee took first place in the Poetry category for My Pagan Grandmother Goes to Heaven. She also earned the top prize in the Fiction category for Empty Bamboo.

“It’s an honor to receive recognition for my creative writing. I’m thankful for the guidance I received from my classmates and instructors,” said Yee. “Winning is as if everyone in the class won because they all contributed with valuable feedback that helped improve my creative ideas.”

Second place in the Poetry contest went to Legg for her piece entitled Fish for Diamonds.

Legg advises other creative writing students to conquer their fear of entering a contest.

“One sure way to lose a contest is to not enter at all,” she said.

Carns received an honorable mention in the Fiction category for Some Kind of Debt and One-act Play/Scripts category for Attention Foodomat Shoppers.

“This is the first writing competition I’ve entered. So, yes, I’m very excited,” said Carns of his entry placements. “My advice to those interested in entering a writing contest is to just do it. Whether your work is accepted or rejected, students should use the process as a learning experience.”

Maricopa’s Creative Writing Competition is judged by local creative writing professionals.

To learn more about the Phoenix College Creative Writing Program, visit www.phoenixcollege.edu/creativewriting or call (602) 285-7347.