JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
Twenty-four Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) members had their writing published in the 28th edition of PTK’s literary journal, Nota Bene. Six received scholarships for their exemplary entries.
The full publication is available here.
Nota Bene showcases the outstanding writing of community college students. More than 800 entries were submitted for the 28th edition competition.
Victoria Hoover, a student at Tyler Junior College in Texas, has received Nota Bene’s highest honor, the Ewing Citation Award of $1,000, for her short story, “Ashes.” The award is named in honor of the late Nell Ewing, a long-time PTK staff member, and goes to the author of the competition’s most outstanding entry, excluding poetry.
Mary “Maya” Sukala, a student at Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania, has been named PTK’s International Poet Laureate for her body of work, “Freeing Cyntoia Brown,” “When an Agnostic Goes to Church,” and “Biology Lesson.” She will receive a $1,000 award and will have the opportunity to present her work during one of PTK’s upcoming international events.
Four additional authors each received a Reynolds Award of $500 for their impressive entries. The award is endowed by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and honors the memory of the late Donald W. Reynolds, founder of the Donrey Media Group (now Stephens Media Group). The Reynolds Award recipients are:
- Karen Batchelor, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana
- Ciara Lukemire, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, Ohio
- Donna Mosley, Walters State Community College, Tennessee
- Noah Newmann, Weatherford College, Texas
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries. Learn more at ptk.org.
The 24 students published in the 28th edition of Nota Bene are:
Karen Batchelor, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana
“Dance with the Wind”
James Belisle, Central New Mexico Community College, New Mexico
“80HD”
Parker Black, Northeast State Community College, Tennessee
“The Cliff, the Gates, and the Man with the Key”
Danny Blakeman, Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York
“American Alms,” “SSRI”
Tricia Chaves, Lorain County Community College, Ohio
“Dear Abdomen”
Zafira Demiri, Brookdale Community College, New Jersey
“A Painting (Left Incomplete)”
Kelsey Glass, Portland Community College, Oregon
“A Moment of Proof”
Tiffany Hill, Rose State College, Oklahoma
“The Death Anniversaries”
Victoria Hoover, Tyler Junior College, Texas
“Ashes”
Sarah Jacques, Delgado Community College, Louisiana
“Red Flowers, White Seed, and Blue Dart”
Jessica King, Fullerton College, California
“The Birth of Hope,” “Semicolon”
Jaewon Kwon, Bergen Community College, New Jersey
“Just a Sandwich”
Ciara Lukemire, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, Ohio
“The Conception of My Sister”
Donna Mosley, Walters State Community College, Tennessee
“Grandma’s Room”
Noah Newmann, Weatherford College, Texas
“Over”
Lilly Preciado, Northeast Alabama Community College, Alabama
“The Raven’s Song”
Günter (Jeremy) Schlueter, Clinton Community College, Iowa
“Creation by Magic”
Elaine Scott, Jackson State Community College, Tennessee
“Pitiful in Pink”
Maya Sukala, Harrisburg Area Community College, Pennsylvania
“Freeing Cyntoia Brown,” “When an Agnostic Goes to Church,” “Biology Lesson”
Marquis Viel, Miami Dade College, Florida
“Don’t Shoot”
Reyna Wallace, Everett Community College, Washington
“When a Fly Fought the Sun”
Danae Watson, Harold Washington College, Illinois
“Rumors and Water”
Justin Whittington, Murray State College, Oklahoma
“The Road”
Soleil Yakita, Atlantic Cape Community College, New Jersey
“Sonnet no. 1”
