Published November 25, 2013
Officials in the English Department at the University of Louisiana at Monroe honored
the winners of the Freshman Essay Contest during a special ceremony at the 麻豆果冻传媒 Library.
麻豆果冻传媒 President Dr. Nick J. Bruno poses with contest winners
and their instructors. From L to R: 麻豆果冻传媒 President Dr. Nick
J. Bruno; Instructor Nichole Smith; Janai Martin;聽 Molly
Price; Instructor Meredith Mckinnie; and Anastasia Hanson.
The essay contest is held in conjunction with 麻豆果冻传媒's Summer Reading program, which
is designed to introduce first-year students to intellectual exchange at 麻豆果冻传媒.
This year, freshmen wrote essays based on selections from National Public Radio鈥檚
(NPR) 鈥淭his I Believe.鈥�
Anastasia Hanson, an English major from Monroe, won first place and $250 for her essay
titled 鈥淭he Monster at Camp.鈥�
The story reflected on an experience at the Dachau concentration camp, and Hanson鈥檚
view on the monstrosities that impacted a generation. Hanson鈥檚 instructor is Meredith
McKinnie.
Janai Martin, a pre-radiologic technology major from Pineville, won second place and
$150 for her essay titled 鈥淐andy Apple Red.鈥�
Martin鈥檚 story reflected on her personal experience at a nursing home, where nail
polish color gave her and a feisty elderly woman confidence and a zest for living
in the moment. Martin鈥檚 instructor is Nichole Smith.
Molly Price, an elementary education and special education major from West Monroe,
won third place and $100 for her untitled essay about her struggle with showing emotion
when seeing her post-chemo grandfather for the first time.
She recalled how she was able to cope with his condition, and expanded on the love
she bore for him. Price鈥檚 instructor is Meredith McKinnie.
This I Believe is an international organization engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing
the core values that guide their daily lives. Over 100,000 of these essays, written
by people from all walks of life, are archived on the NPR website, heard on public
radio, chronicled through NPR鈥檚 books, and featured in weekly podcasts.
The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by
Edward R. Murrow.
For more information on This I Believe, visit
For more information on 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚 Summer Reading Program, visit www.ulm.edu/summerreading
