College of Arts and Sciences

Students from WIU’s English department and our local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society win Convention Paper Award and elected Midwestern Student Representative this past weekend in Minneapolis!

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Eight students presented their creative and critical work at this year’s Sigma Tau Delta international convention in downtown Minneapolis:

  • Molly Cameron - critical paper - sponsored by David Banash
  • Kirsten Dillender - creative writing - sponsored by Barbara Ashwood
  • Haley Helgesen - critical paper & roundtable presentation - sponsored by Tim Helwig
  • Justin Kim - critical paper - sponsored by David Banash
  • Natasha Morgan - creative writing - sponsored by Magdelyn Helwig
  • Tanya Nimz - creative writing - sponsored by Magdelyn Helwig
  • Brandon Nizzio - creative writing - sponsored by Barbara Ashwood
  • Jared Worley - creative writing & roundtable presentation - sponsored by Barbara Ashwood

Our excellent student, Haley Helgesen, was elected to serve as the Midwestern Student Representative, a one-year position that involves duties at the national and regional levels of the organization. She will serve alongside Tim Helwig, the organization’s Midwestern Regent. This position is a great honor for Haley, and for our department.

At the convention's closing awards ceremony, our amazing student, Jared Worley, won second place ($300) for the Best Convention Paper on Diversity in Creative Writing, and our recent graduate, Natasha Morgan, won third place ($150) for the Best Convention Paper on Diversity in Creative Writing. This is the first time our chapter has won a competitive Convention Paper Award, so this is a great accomplishment for the individual students and for our local chapter and department.

We are thankful to all the English faculty who have sponsored, advised, and worked with our English students over the years. They couldn't have done it without you!