September 12, 2014

Honors student Kimberly Miller wins writing award

By Dawn Wainwright

GREENVILLE (09/08/2014) The winners of the 2014 W. Keats Sparrow Writing Awards were recognized in a ceremony at Joyner Library on August 27. The awards recognize excellence in research and writing by students in ECU’s English 1100 and 1200 composition classes.

The Friends of Joyner Library sponsored the event named in honor of the late Dr. W. Keats Sparrow, Professor Emeritus of English and former dean of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences.  Mrs. Elizabeth (Liz) Sparrow, who serves on the Friends of Joyner Library Board of Directors, was on hand for the event.

During the program, the winners read excerpts of their papers.  Ashley Campbell, first place, won $200 for “The Effects of Text Messaging on Students’ Literacy.”  The second place entry, “Emergence of Antibiotic Resistance:  MRSA,” was written by Sarah Stout who won $150.  Kimberly Miller placed third with a $100 prize for “Land of the Free – Why not ‘Sea of the Free?’”  Marc Peterson was the instructor for all three winners, a first in the award program’s history.

“Joyner Library and the Department of English have a well-established information literacy program that helps students develop research and critical thinking skills,” says Jan Lewis, interim dean of Joyner Library.  “Since its inception in 2000, the W. Keats Sparrow Award program has recognized students who have excelled in these areas. It is always a delight to meet these students, listen to excerpts from their papers, and talk with them about their education, career plans, and the importance of the Library to their success.”

For more information about this writing award program, contact David Hisle, coordinator of instructional services at 252-328-4978.