Two Students Presented with Writing Department Composition Awards

For 14 years, the Writing Department has acknowledged outstanding student work with composition awards. Writing faculty, Dr. Richard Matzen, says the awards are also important because they “make the larger university community aware of the exemplary writing occurring across subjects at the university that merit recognition.”

This year’s winners were David Cameron, who won the First-Year Composition Award, and Daniel “Danny” Kummer, who won the Advanced Writing Award. Runners up for the First-Year Composition Award are America Bravo and Jose Reyes. Runners up for the Advanced Writing Award are Misael Rojas and Lanceperry “Lance” Maniquis.

Writing Awards Committee member Laurel DiGangi observes, “David Cameron displayed a strong talent for describing and analyzing both poetry as well as visual art.” David’s three essays centered on the work of Black poet Claudine Rankine’s “Citizen,” and included an analysis of an untitled work by Black artist Glenn Ligon. Danny Kummer’s “Into the Circle: The Adventure Between Discourse Communities,” was about his transition into a discourse community of punk rockers, as seen through the lens of mythologist’s Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey.”

“The piece was both entertaining and original, yet academically sound,” DiGangi observes. “Reading Danny’s essays as a judge inspired me to interview him as a potential Writing Center tutor, and I eventually hired him. He’s working for us, both on-premises in Whitten Hall and also online through TEAMS.” Runner up Jose Reyes is now also working as a Writing Center tutor. Congratulations to all the winners!

Last Updated on October 11, 2021.