Ļć½¶Ö±²„storytellersā works highlighted in Story State 2023
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.āThree Ļć½¶Ö±²„ students are this yearās winners of Story State, an annual Ļć½¶Ö±²„event highlighting the best collegiate storytelling in the Magnolia State.
Open to all students enrolled at one of Mississippiās institutions of higher learning, Story Stateās overall winner earns a master storyteller designation and is awarded $250.
Heather Harrison, an Ļć½¶Ö±²„senior communication major from Hazlehurst, won first place and was named master storyteller for ā9/11,ā a written narrative recounting Annemarie Bohnās coverage of the devastating attacks as a student-journalist for The Reflector, MSUās student-run newspaper.
Second place was awarded to Elizabeth Keen, an Ļć½¶Ö±²„junior communication major from Redwood, for āMike and Me: How One Eccentric College Football Coach Shaped My Life.ā Keenās story details former Ļć½¶Ö±²„football coach Mike Leachās impact on her life and work.
Emma Dotson, an Ļć½¶Ö±²„business administration graduate student from Madison, won third place for āThe Cheese Fry Crawl.ā Dotsonās piece takes the reader through a personal taste-testing of various cheese fries in Starkville as she searched for the very best option.Ā
One judge wrote, āThe top written story category entries were great examples of how storytelling can make a reader feel those emotions right along with the writer. These talented students captured a range of emotions, including humor, hunger, sadness and delight, in submissions that showed their exceptional writing skills. Our first-place winner captured the fear and uncertainty of 9/11. The writing style captivated me and truly made me feel like I was living the experience.ā
Visit or email ablount@comm.msstate.eduĀ for more information about Story State.
For more details about the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Communication, visit and .
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