November 22, 2004

Mesa State College hosts 2004 high school writing conference

Grand Junction, CO - Mesa State College held its annual writing conference for Western Slope high schools on November 8, 2004. The students participated in creative writing workshops held by the college's creative writing facility and students and heard a reading by guest Diana Joseph, author of "Happy Or Otherwise," a collection of short-stories.

Students also took part in the annual Mesa State College Writing Contest, which awards first, second and third place winners, along with two honorable mentions, with gift certificates to Readmoor Books. The entry categories are fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Mesa State also awards an annual $1,000 scholarship to the most creative writing portfolio.

This year's winners are as follows:

The $1,000 Scholarship: Marena V. Fritler, Plateau Valley High School

Poetry:
First Place: Katie Keller, Fruita Monument High School
Second Place: Camille Kimball, Fruita Monument High School
Third Place: Kristin Smith, Fruita Monument High School
Honorable Mention: Katie Keller, Fruita Monument High School
Honorable Mention: Cassidee Shull, Fruita Monument High School

Fiction:
First Place: Katie Wataha, Fruita Monument High School
Second Place: Josh Fitzner, Fruita Monument High School
Third Place: Ryan Koch, Plateau Valley High School
Honorable Mention: Justin D. Roles, Fruita Monument High School
Honorable Mention: Cullen Robertson, Fruita Monument High School

Non-Fiction:
First Place: Hannah Pauling, Fruita Monument High School
Second Place: Clayton Bargsten, Fruita Monument High School
Third Place: Tessa Arnett, Fruita Monument High School
Honorable Mention: Jesenia Tafoya, Grand Junction High School
Honorable Mention: Cassidee Shull, Fruita Monument High School

Approximately 200 students participated in the writing conference. For more information, contact John Nizalowski, lecturer of English, at 970.248.1558.

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