The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1593, michal@unm.edu
Jazmen Bradford, (505) 277-5851, jazbradford@gmail.com

October 28, 2009

UNM to Host Celebration of Student Writing

UNM’s Department of English will hold its inaugural Celebration of Student Writing, an event showcasing the work of first-year English students, on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building ballrooms.

The event, inspired by a similar student writing celebration from East Michigan University, will be a venue for students to display their creativity while building ties with fellow classmates.

“One of the main goals of the Celebration of Student Writing is to foster community among students in their English 101 classes, so we strongly encourage classmates to create group installations instead of individual installations,” said Genesea  Carter, chairperson of the Celebration of Student Writing Committee.

“I am quite passionate about giving first-year students a venue to share their work, and the celebration is a fabulous way to do that.”

Twenty-five sections of English 101 were asked to participate through class or individual submissions in this first annual celebration.

“Students are getting very excited, and some TAs (teaching assistants) are turning this event into friendly competition between their classes and their friends’ classes,” Carter said.

With preparations for this year’s event underway, the department is looking to expand the celebration to include all sections of English 101, 102, 219 and 220 in coming years, Carter said.

“I have great confidence that the Celebration of Student Writing will be a great event this year and, hopefully, for years to come,” she said.