Most of the time, Guilford writers struggle anonymously. Theirs is a private battle: when athletes are glorified, when drama students receive top billing in the new play, when student government leaders have the honor of holding lofty titles, the writer is grinding out page after page, alone. But once a year, there is the Dean’s Writing Awards Contest.
The contest recognizes exemplary student writing and rewards winners with cash prizes. Students are invited to submit work in six different categories. Traditionally academic categories, like Writing in the Physical and Natural Sciences, are supplemented by awards for poetry and fiction.
Writing Director Cynthia Nearman, who joined the Guilford faculty last semester, is organizing the 2005 contest.
“The contest helps raise the profile of writing on campus,” she said. “We are committed to creating more opportunities for (writers).”
“Writing is really hard work,” she continued. “If you can write at a college level – that deserves celebration.”
The contest is now in its tenth year. English Department chair and contest founder Jeff Jeske organized the first Dean’s Writing Award Contest when he was writing director.
“Guilford defines itself as a writing intensive school. The contest was a natural outgrowth of that,” Jeske said.
Originally, the contest only rewarded academic writing. In 2000, the English Department introduced the Betty Place Prize for Poetry, and last year a fiction category was added.
“The addition of fiction and poetry categories has regenerated interest in the past years,” Jeske said.
In 2004, students submitted 50 pieces of writing. This year, the judges are hoping for 100 entries.
“What we really want more than anything is for a lot of writers to submit stories and poetry,” said tutor Doug Smith, who is a judge for both the poetry and fiction contests.
Many students who plan to submit their writing praised the contest.
“The fact that it has deadlines and rules motivates me,” said sophomore Daniel Bullard-Bates.
“Entering the contest will be rewarding in itself – it feels good to put energy into getting my writing out to people,” wrote sophomore Dylan Grayson in an e-mail. “I’m glad Guilford has such an opportunity, and I hope we will have more opportunities for creative writers.”
Opportunities are coming: a writing track will likely be introduced soon to the traditional English major. A fiction workshop and the success of poetry readings are other indicators that Guilford is becoming a haven for writers.
“There’s a confluence of forces: students bringing the interest, and the college seeing the expanding of the writing program being consistent with its mission,” Jeske said. “Students seem to come to Guilford enormously interested in writing.