Winners of the 2023 Jacaranda and Donald Drury awards read their entries in LAC’s P building courtyard last Thursday, exploring grief, the supernatural and the horrors of chattel slavery.
Students featured in the Jacaranda Essay Contest were recognized for their 2022-2023 school year accomplishments based on persuasive, expository and literature essays with honorable mentions.
For the Donald Drury Creative Writing contest, students submitted original fiction and poetry for consideration.
“Honestly, I’m so surprised to have my work recognized,” said Torche Johnson, one of two winners of the Drury Award fiction category.
“On the inside, I was doing somersaults and still am,” Johnson said.
Johnson wrote her piece “Whole in the Wall” as an exploration of grief through supernatural motifs.
“Grief, of course, is a very real thing and sometimes it’s so overwhelming and powerful to the point it feels supernatural and makes the world seem unreal,” said Johnson.
“That’s how I felt when my mom passed away, that the pain and even comfort I experienced was all so very bizarre and supernatural.”
These essays were assessed by a panel of academic faculty and staff for each category.
Students received a plaque with their names and essay titles imprinted on it.
By meeting the requirements for the contest, students were awarded cash prizes in each category based on grammar, mechanics and documentation.
The ceremony attendees consisted of award winners along with the faculty, staff, family and friends there to show support.
“I feel so honored to be recognized and more confident heading into this path,” said creative writing award winner Clay Taylor.
Taylor, author of “American Folk Hero Jade,” explained that the essay is a response to the brutality of chattel slavery with supernatural elements.