Awards & Appointments

Congratulations to Amanda Mizelle who has been named Outstanding Senior among those English majors graduating December 15, 2006.  The Student Services and Scholarships Committee selected Marlana Nicole Panaski as the outstanding finalist.  16 Master of Arts degrees and 22 Bachelor of Arts degrees were conferred.  Both Amanda Mizelle and Dean Alan White spoke at the ceremony in the Mendenhall Great room.

Congratulations to Will Banks and Todd Finley who received a grant for $30,000 from the National Writing Project to establish the Tar River Writing Project at East Carolina University. Richard Sterling, Executive Director of the NWP, noted this application "to be one of exceptional merit."  Banks and Finley worked in cooperation with the Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction.  The NWP is a federally funded initiative that has served K-College teachers in all disciplines since the 1970s.  According to the NWP website: "The National Writing Project is the premier effort to improve writing in America. Through its professional development model, NWP builds the leadership, programs, and research needed for teachers to help their students become successful writers and learners.  Every student deserves a highly skilled teacher of writing.  To that end, each of the nearly 200 NWP sites [all on university campuses] conducts an annual summer institute, attended by the most experienced teachers in the area. Together, these teachers prepare for leadership roles by demonstrating their most effective practices, studying research, and improving their knowledge of writing by writing themselves." For more information, see: http://www.writingproject.org

Beth Copeland's poem "Clair de Lunatic" has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Vox, Oxford, Mississippi's Independent Literary Journal.  Her poem "Maps" received a "Best of Issue" award from Main Street Rag's Summer 2006 issue. For more information about Main Street Rag, please see: http://newpages.com/magazineguide/main_street_rag.htm

Welcome to Ramey Dail who has been named Administrative Assistant in the Writing Studio.  Ms. Dail holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Barton College and taught for about 15 years in the Wilson and Rocky Mount public school systems.  While working in the department, she plans to pursue a Master's degree in Music Education, and graciously serve as piano accompanist for graduation ceremonies.

Margaret Bauer has been named President-Elect of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association.  Established in 1900, the association is among the oldest organizations of its kind in the nation.  Aligned with the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, the mission of the association includes: "promoting the interest of North Carolinians in the state's literature and history, encouraging productive literary activity within the state, and bringing to public attention meritorious works by North Carolina writers."  Publications distributed by the association include: North Carolina Historical Review, Carolina Comments, and North Carolina Literary Review.  See: http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/affiliates/lit-hist/lit-hist.htm