McKinney Writing Contest Winners 2023
Undergraduate Poetry
First Prize: “Birthright,” Phoebe Demers, Biomedical Engineering
Second Prize: "Paprika isn’t real," Mattaya Gibbs, Communication, Media, and Design
Third Prize: “Jenna," Nyah Philip, Environmental Engineering
Honorable Mentions:
“Things Unrelated to Bond Polarity: A Fleeting Molecular Moment,” Alysa Fitch, Sustainability Studies/ Communication, Media, & Design
“Mango Pit,” Anya Jewell, Physics
Graduate Poetry
First Prize: “Spicy Food,” Nathan Smith, Biochemistry and Biophysics (PhD)
Second Prize: “Wastelanding,” Allie E.S. Wist, Electronic Media Arts (PhD)
Third Prize: "letter of resignation as your Emotional Support Daughter,” Maggie Mang, Science and Technology Studies (PhD)
Honorable Mentions:
“Couched in Deux Languages," Cliff Watson, Communication and Rhetoric (PhD)
“Letter to My Fellow Monster,” Gabriel Medina-Kim, Science and Technology Studies (PhD)
Undergraduate Creative Prose & Drama
First Prize: “Two Shards of the Rearview Mirror,” Anjali Shinde, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
Second Prize: “White Noise,” Allie Labrecque, Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering
Third Prize: “Nora Ephron's Key Lime Pie,” Ahnalese Pearson, Communication, Media, and Design
Honorable Mention:
“Disk Jockey,” Brailyn King, Aeronautical Engineering
Graduate Creative Prose & Drama
First Prize: “On the impossibility of purity in compromised spaces or How would one react upon slaughtering chickens?” Maggie Mang, Science and Technology Studies (PhD)
Second Prize: “Souls and Other Fleeting Things” Elizabeth Nelligan, Business Administration
Third Prize: "A Cancer On This City," Matthew Hlady, Critical Game Design (PhD)
Undergraduate Academic Essay
First Prize: "North American Red Fox Rabies Immunity Gene Drive for Safer (Sub)Urban Rewilding," Vixey Foxwish Douglas, Computer Science
Second Prize: "Haiti is Dead and God Killed Her: Investigating the Theological Underpinnings of International Finance, Intervention, and Sovereignty in Haiti," Xiomara Jean-Louis, Sustainability Studies/ Economics
Third Prize: "Blurring Life and Death Through Mourning in The Nickel Boys," Alysa Fitch, Sustainability Studies/ Communication, Media, and Design
Honorable Mentions
“Silly Love Songs or Something Great?: The Impact Of Popularity On The Perceived Legitimacy Of Pop Musicians," Shannon Clark, Psychological Science
"American Elitism and Tokenism," Sadie Ehrenberg; Mathematics/Management
Graduate Academic Essay
First Prize: "Thank you for the Content," Chris Althoff, Media and Communication
Second Prize: "Games for Consideration and Consideration for Games," Matthew Hlady, Critical Game Design
Third Prize: "Invited In, Asked To Stay, Welcomed Back," Meg Von Seggern, Communication and Rhetoric (PhD)
Undergraduate Electronic Media Using Language
First Prize: “Embodied,” Emma Abercrombie, Biology/Communication, Media, and Design
Second Prize: “Why I Write Comics,” Sofia Russo, Biology/Cognitive Science (co-term)
Third Prize: “Nth Degree Fever,” Trent Welch, Communication, Media, and Design
Mixed Genre: Language and Empowerment
First Prize: “How to Crack a Breastbone” (and other poems), Nyah Philip, Environmental Engineering
Second Prize: “Say Hello To Your Sister,” Sydney Stojkovic, Electronic Arts
Third Prize: “1312 Taboo St.,” Laura Zwirn, Mechanical Engineering
Honorable Mentions
“Forced Into Misandry,” Mattaya Gibbs, Communication, Media, and Design
"Micah," Grace Perincheril, Psychological Science/Communication, Media, and Design
2023 Winner Bios
Emma Abercrombie is from Brookeville, Maryland.
Christopher Althoff is a graduate student in the media and communications program. He uses his background in English literature to study the cultural impacts of adaptations.
Shannon Clark is from New Jersey. She has been writing fiction for as long as she can remember and someday hopes to be a published novelist.
Phoebe Demers aspires to work in the field of de-extinction to conserve the natural world that she so adores.
Vixey Foxwish Douglas aspires to pursue additional education in Computer Science, with research interests such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and bioinformatics.
Sadie Ehrenberg is passionate about community service and is currently on the board of RPI's Circle K Club.
Alysa Fitch plans to pursue publishing and supporting sustainable food systems.
Mattaya Gibbs is from Parsons, Kansas. She plans to become an editor.
Matt Hlady's love for storytelling and meaningful experiences has led him from studies in English, history, and legal studies at UMass Amherst to RPI and working professionally in game development.
Xiomara Jean-Louis is from South Florida. She plans to study international power relations, economic history, and climate change at the graduate level to advocate for environmental and economic justice for countries in Africa and the Caribbean.
Anya Jewell is from New Hampshire. Hobbies she enjoys include creative writing, painting, and playing the trumpet.
Brailyn King is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She hopes to do something after graduation in May, though she doesn't know what.
Allie Labrecque enjoys reading and writing comedy, fantasy, and horror.
Maggie Mang is a PhD student in the department of STS. She is writing a dissertation project on how histories of pharmaceuticals intersect with the history of agriculture.
Gabriel Medina-Kim is a PhD Student in Science and Technology Studies. They hail from the Ohlone lands known as San Francisco.
Elizabeth Nelligan attended Cornell University as an undergraduate where she received a degree in biology. She plans to work in the life sciences industry following graduation.
Ahnalese Pearson is from Niskayuna, NY and plans to teach English.
Grace Perincheril is from West Orange, NJ ,and will be pursuing a career in Quality Assurance upon graduation.
Nyah Philip is from Canada. She plans to pioneer environmental initiatives with the help of her writing and degree.
Sofia Russo is a senior Biology Major and Cognitive Science co-term student. She is from Brooklyn, NY. She is a cartoonist, has a fantastic record collection, and plays rhythm guitar and bass.
Anjali Shinde is from New Hampshire. She hopes to help people through both her cancer research and her love for writing.
Meg Von Seggern has an MS from Syracuse University in Communication, specializing in Journalism. She is a first-year Ph.D. student focusing research on under-served and underrepresented populations in issues related to equity, inclusion, accessibility and diversity.
Sydney Stojkovic is an Electronic Arts major with a passion for comics and animation. She is from NJ and wants to make her own animated series.
Nathan Smith is from Pennsylvania and he plans to continue research to improve the lives of those with Alzheimer's Disease.
Cliff Watson is a first year PhD student in Communication and Rhetoric. His research interest is narrative in hybrid media and performance spaces.
Trent Welch is from New York. He hopes to bring awareness to mental illness and provide relief and relatability through the use of sculpture, writing, music, and graphic design.
Allie E.S. Wist is an artist-scholar and PhD student in the Electronic Arts program. Her work focuses on sensory futures, food, and the Anthropocene.
Laura Zwirn (They/She) is a writer and a mechanical engineering student. They are a queer Jewish person from Ventura County, California. They plan to use their engineering knowledge to empower communities and create a more accessible world for people with disabilities.
Previous Years
Undergraduate Poetry
First Prize: "Self Poem," Lisa Knuckey, Math/Computer Science
Second Prize: "Anti-Queer Nuclear Fear, 2022 Is Not the Year," Harshil Patel, Mechanical Engineering/Economics
Third Prize: “Snow,” Gwen Moyer, GSAS
Graduate Poetry
First Prize: "A Recipe for Nonhuman Companionship," Allie E.S. Wist, Electronic Media Arts (PhD)
Undergraduate Fiction/Drama
First Prize: "Move Forward," Max Nigogosyan, GSAS
Second Prize: “A Trap of Talons,” Hannah Fried, Physics/Electrical Engineering
Third Prize: “We Are Killers” Lily Wood, Architecture
Graduate Fiction/Drama
First Prize: “Better to Burn It All Away,” Matthew Hlady, Critical Game Design (PhD)
Second Prize: "Elder K'naarck's Epic of Creation," Jawica Carpentier, Critical Game Design (Masters)
Third Prize: “The Only Past is Now,” N. Bucky Stanton, Science & Technology Studies (PhD)
Undergraduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction
First Prize: “Architectural Ambiguities in the Gothic,” J. Hoggan, Architecture
Second Prize: “In the Kitchen,” Emma Shark, Mechanical Engineering
Third Prize: “Humans, Soil, and Ecology,” Hannah Price, Economics/Sustainability Studies/ Economics
Honorable Mentions
“A Sequence Along the Descending Depths of Disconnection"; Jessica James; Communications, Media, and Design
“Legally Blonde: The Influence of Elle Woods on Education”; Ahnalese Pearson; Communications, Media, and Design
Undergraduate Electronic Media Using Language
First Prize: "We Were Silenced," Jordan Jackson, Building Sciences/Design,Innovation, and Technology
Second Prize: "Give My Regards to My Cousin (and The Ox)," Sofia Russo, Biology
Third Prize: “Hiraeth” Amatullah Kose, Architecture
2022 Special Contest: Language and Empowerment
First Prize: “No Doubt: A Poem About Black Resiliency,” Nyah Philip, Environmental Engineering
Second Prize: “Painting Dandelions,” Anjali Shinde, Bioinformatics/Molecular Biology
2022 Winner Bios
Jawica Carpentier grew up surrounded by forests and swamps. They are looking to become a game artist who creates living worlds for people to enjoy.
Hannah Fried is from Queens, in New York City. She cherishes the outlet for expression that writing fiction provides.
J. Hoggan hopes to specialize in restoration, while perhaps finding time to write historically accurate fantasy.
Matt Hlady has a B.A. in English and another in Western Laws & Ethics from UMass Amherst. Writing stories is the closest he can get to playing god, but he's pretty happy with that.
Jordan Jackson is a dual major in Building Sciences and Design, Innovation, and Society. She enjoys applying her visual thinking through graphic recording and visual sense-making.
Jessica James is from New York and she plans to pursue a career in design.
Amatullah Kose plans to go to graduate school for Civil Engineering and wants to work designing public spaces that help communities flourish.
Lisa Knuckey is currently a senior, originally from New Jersey. They plan to write software user documentation or, should worse come to worst, code.
Gwen Moyer is originally from Boston, Mass. She has a passion for visual arts, music, and creative writing, which she aims to implement as strong elements in the games she designs and works on.
Max Nigogosyan is a writer, game designer, and 3D artist. He plans to find new ways to tell stories through these different types of media.
Harshil Patel is a multiracial brown Asian American Muslim from Long Island, New York. He plans to start a civic organization dedicated to addressing the needs of marginalized communities through technological solutions and grassroots political action.
Ahnalese Pearson is from Upstate New York. She plans to teach literature and writing.
Nyah Philip is from Canada. She wants to explore renewable energy in hopes for a more sustainable future.
Hannah Price is a junior from Pittsburgh, PA who is passionate about sustainability initiatives, social research, and public policy. Hannah is a member of the Our Soil research team, which is an international and interdisciplinary citizen science soil study which inspired this essay. She is a member of the RPI Women's Hockey team.
Sofia Russo is a Junior from New York. She is planning on pursuing medicine. She enjoys making comics and writing on the side.
Emma Shark is from California. In addition to her engineering studies she journals fastidiously and paints for fun.
Anjali Shinde hopes to help people through both her neurological research and her love for writing.
N. Bucky Stanton's dissertation investigates natural and cultural resource extraction in the Peloponnese, exploring the history and politics of archaeology, energy, and modernity in Greece.
Allie E.S. Wist is a first year PhD student focusing on sensory studies, environmental humanities, and the Anthropocene. She has an MA in Food Studies from New York University and a BA in Media from Boston University. She worked as a writer and photographer in food media for over a decade, and she has taught at NYU and The New School.
Lily Wood is passionate about writing as a communication skill. She is in her third year of office running RPI's creative writing club, Comma.
McKinney Writing Contest Winners 2021
Undergraduate Poetry
First Prize: "Black Vagabonds," Nyah Philip, Environmental Engineering
Second Prize: "Spring, Autumn, " Jimmy Jin, GSAS
Third Prize: “Almost,” Varenya Gade, Biology
Graduate Poetry
First Prize: "Deathbed Rhapsody," Jamie Steele, Science and Technology Studies
Second Prize: "Do you remember (II)," Mitch Cieminski, Science and Technology Studies
Third Prize: "Childhood," Adrian Campbell-Riives
Undergraduate Electronic Media Using Language
First Prize: "Reversed Guins," Brian Tsuji, Industrial Engineering
Second Prize: "The Ride," Carmen Perez, Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication
Third Prize: “Be Better,” Ayesha Ayesha, Architecture
Undergraduate Fiction/Drama
First Prize: "Onychophora (velvet worms)," Boden Whalen, Biochemistry/Biophysics
Second Prize: “A History of Yarn,” Jacqueline Ray, Biomedical Engineering
Third Prize: “Different, Worse,” Carmen Perez, Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication
Graduate Fiction/Drama
First Prize: “A Hundred Years of Excessive YouTube Company,” Elkin Alejandro Cruz Camacho, Science and Technology Studies
Second Prize: “Einherjar,” Charles McCabe, Chemistry
Third Prize: “Lasting Logics,”, N. Bucky Stanton, Science & Technology Studies
Undergraduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction
First Prize [Tie]: “Culinary Corruption: How Fusion Food Threatens Authentic Ethnic Cuisines,” Divya Mohanraj, Biology
First Prize [Tie]: “The Expression of Femininity in Bechdel’s Fun Home and Morrison’s The Bluest Eye,” Shannon Clark, Psychological Science
Second Prize [Tie]: “Shifting Fantastical Reality: A Literary Criticism of George Saunders’ ‘Sea Oak,’” Chelsea Bovell, Computer Science
Second Prize [Tie]: “Nason Garden: A Space for Growth, Exploration and Discovery,” Jasmine Joshi, Biomedical Engineering
Third Prize[Tie]: “Rosemary Kennedy: How One Tragic Story Changed the Fate of the Disabled Community Forever,” Hannah Price, Sustainability Studies/ Economics
Third Prize[Tie]: “A Hairy Moment,” Cooper Urban, Biology/ Economics
Honorable Mentions
“The Last Sundae,” Jared Zornitzer
“The Monster: An Analysis of LGBTQ+ Characters in Horror Films,” Carmen Perez
McKinney Writing Contest Winners 2020
Undergraduate Poetry
First Prize: “Sea Sickness,” Boden Whalen, Biochemistry/Biophysics
Second Prize: “coconut husk,” Hazelle Lerum, Science & Technology Studies
Third Prize: “Katie Flor,” Chunym Yang, Materials Science Engineering AND
Third Prize: “Terms of Surrender,” Jeremiah Malenfant, Geology and E & ES
Honorable Mentions:
“Denoument,” Tara Azam, Biochemistry/Biophysics
“ “, Gavriel Zahavi, Computer Science
“Pink Plastic Tricycle,” Isaac Thompson, Mathematics
Graduate Poetry
First Prize: Eight Poems, Hayley McCullough, Communication & Media
Undergraduate Electronic Media Using Language
First Prize: “Orys,” Kaitlyn Briscoe, EARTS & Communication & Media (CMD?)
Second Prize: “Party Game,” Simon Hopkins, GSAS/ Computer Science
Third Prize: “Resolute, Sarah Elaine Mirekua, GSAS/ EARTS
Honorable Mention: “Gaze,” Carmen Perez, Electronic Media Arts and Communication/ Communication and Media
Graduate Electronic Media Using Language
First Prize: “For Vanessa,” Van Tran Nguyen, Arts
Undergraduate Fiction/Drama
First Prize: “Search History,” Logan Harris, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering
Second Prize: “Lines,” Rachel E. Mailhot, Games, Simulations, Arts, & Sciences
Third Prize: “Gazing at Flowers,” Kunyuan Liu, Computer Science/ Mathematics
Graduate Fiction/Drama
First Prize: “Rupture,” Nathaniel Stanten, Science and Technology Studies
Second Prize: “Frankenstein Party,” Elkin Cruz-Camacho, ECSE
Undergraduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction
First Prize: “Lilap Song,” John Salvucci, Biochemistry/Biophysics
Second Prize: “The Engineer,” Molly Cunningham, Geology
Third Prize: “Feet,” Molly Wolford, Information Technology and Web Science
Honorable Mention: “Experiencing the Opioid Epidemic,” Alexander Rogan Zangari, Science and Technology Studies
Honorable Mention: “The Tale of an Iris,” Mark Neri, Business and Management
Honorable Mention, “Portraits (If I Could Whisper Advice to the Stars),” Lisa Knuckey, Computer Science/ Mathematics
Honorable Mention: “Fuzzy Teeth,” Hazelle Lerum, Science and Technology Studies
Graduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction
First Prize: “On Refusing Acts of Enclosure,” Maggie Mang, Science & Technology Studies
Second Prize: “Half Pantheon,” Maxwell Montemagno, Information Technology and Web Science
Third Prize: “Intolerable Truths,” April Alfieri, Biology
Undergraduate Poetry:
First Prize
- Hazelle Lerum, Science and Technology Studies, for “grandma’s in charge of the guts”
Second Prize
- LaKissa Martin, Civil Engineering, for “Warrior’s Land”
Third Prize [TIE]
- Joseph Vidal, Physics, for “Silver Shoe”
- Sage Freter, Civil Engineering, for “Quiet Noises”
Fourth Prize (TIE)
- Tabitha Earls, Economics and HASS, for “I Want”
- Zacharia Spurier, Bioinformatics, for “Xq28-The Gene”
- Portia Yin, Computer Science and Communication, for “Schoolhouse Haunt"
Graduate Poetry
First Prize
- Jamie Steele, Science and Technology Studies, for “What being am I if not a mother?”
Second Prize
- Tessabella Magliochetti, Biomedical Engineering, for “Planted”
Third prize
- Jaden Wright, Industrial Engineering, for “Annie 411”
Undergraduate Fiction and Drama
First Prize
- Jay Franklin, Computer Science, for “Jigsaw”
Second Prize
- Maria Salmon, Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences and Communication, for “orange n white”
Third Prize
Four writers who collaborated:
- James Laks, Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences
- Dan Gay, Computer Science
- Corwin Ruggiero, Electronic Arts and
- Dylan Bockelman, Games and Simulation Arts and Science, for “Lovely, Lovely Larceny”
Fourth Prize
Four writers who collaborated:
- Brad Baker, Chemical Engineering
- Lucy Belden, Electronic Media Arts and Communication
- Michael Murphy, Mechanical Engineering and
- Lauren Tebeau, Computers and Systems Engineering, for “Safety and Sabotage”
Graduate Fiction and Drama
The judges made no awards in this category.
Undergraduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction
First Prize
- Lisa Knuckey, Electrical Engineering, for “What Is Small?
Second Prize
- Alexa Orosz, Electronic Media Arts and Communication and Computer Science, for “Workout Plan”
Third Prize
- Tiffani Szeto, Biology and Psychological Science, for “Lemonaid”
Fourth prize (TIE)
- Christina van Hal, Mathematics, for “Have Fun”
- Logan Witt, Electronic Media Arts and Communication and Psychological Science, for “Peanuts”
Graduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction:
First Prize
- Lauren Gasior, Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, for “Sunflower”
Second Prize
- Allison Bannister, Communication and Rhetoric, for “A Fairytale Box of Thermochromic Fragments: Comics Materiality, Theory and Praxis”
Third Prize
- Third prize, Jessie House, Psychological Science, for “A Wednesday in July”
Undergraduate Electronic Media:
First prize
- Ziqing Wang, Computer Science and Electronic Arts, for “The Truth”
Second Prize (TIE)
- Julia Krawiec, Electronic Arts and Games Simulation Arts and Sciences, for “The Witch’s Demon”
- Haruka Liu, Architecture, “Noontime CatLassRoom”
Graduate Electronic Media:
First Prize
- Igraine Perkinson, HASS and Electronic Arts, for “Texto.”
UNDERGRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Hazelle Lerum, Science, Technology and Society, for “Seven Attempts”
Second Prize
- Zachariah Spurrier, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, for “Test 3”
Third Prize
- Zoe Westwater, Mechanical Engineering, for “Holy Grain”
Honorable Mentions
- Ankit Juneja, Biology, for “Exploration 4”
- Ezekiel Sherbourne, Chemistry, for “Seaside”
- Cody Seipp, Architecture, for “You Up”
GRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Angela Beallor, Electronic Arts, for “Celebration”
Honorable Mention
- Ainsley Pinkowitz, Materials Science and Engineering, for “Grief”
UNDERGRADUATE SHORT FICTION AND DRAMA
First Prize (TIE)
- Jacob Kaplan, Computer Science, for “Molvakia” and for “In An Airport”:
- Wailana Chan, Electrical Engineering
- Kirk Melhuish, Electronic Arts
- Sam Suite, Computer Science and GSAS
- Clay Tilton, Civil Engineering
- Eileen Yao, Computer Science
Second Prize
- Maeve Tucker, Civil Engineering, for “Weekend Plans”
Third Prize (TIE)
- Ellis D. Tammelleo, Civil Engineering, for “The Reserve”
- Gabriel Gray, GSAS, for “The Assistant”
UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY AND CREATIVE NONFICTION
First Prize
- Dylan Jones, Physics, for “Long Live the Crownless King”
Second Prize
- Zachary Short, Philosophy, for “Fallen Silence”
Third Prize
- Zoe Westwater, Mechanical Engineering, for “#006”
GRADUATE ESSAY AND CREATIVE NONFICTION
First Prize
- Stephanie Jennings, Communication & Media, for “Abject Play”
Second Prize
- Robb Conrad Lauzon, Communication & Media, for “Debating Space”
Third Prize
- Lorelei Wagner, Communication & Media, for “Sound Bytes of Multimodal Composition”
UNDERGRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA
First Prize
- Alex Zylka, DIS (Science andTechnology Studies), for “Light, suddenly in the dark”
Second Prize
- Rachel E. Mailhot, GSAS, for “An Awkward Conversation”
GRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA
First Prize
- Angela Beallor, Electronic Arts, for “Eclipsed: Parts I & II (excerpt of a work in progress)”
Second Prize
- Dan Ng Wei hao, Electronic Arts, for “Body Language”
Third Prize
- Allison Bannister, Communication and Media, for “Ghost Room”
UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY AND CREATIVE NONFICTION
First Prize
- Zachariah Spurrier, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, for “Paper Cuts”
Second Prize (Tie)
- Elizabeth Hwang, Industrial and Management Engineering, for “Morning Wind”
- Jade Forman, Electrical Engineering, for “The Impossible Pedestal”
Third Prize (Tie)
- Arslan Sheikh, Biochemistry/Biophysics, for “On Eid Morning”
- Jenna Shulman, Chemical Engineering, for “The Modern Eugenics Wars: An International Debate of the Morality Behind Genetic Engineering”
Honorable Mention
- Wailana Chan, Electrical Engineering, for “A Jar Called Hope”
GRADUATE ESSAY AND CREATIVE NONFICTION
First Prize
- Lorelei Wagner, Communication and Media, for “Multisensory Rhetoric: Toward an Understanding of Embodied Meaning-making”
Second Prize
- Can Mekik, Cognitive Science, for “Cognitive Science: A Terse Characterization”
Third Prize
- Robb Conrad Lauzon, Communication and Media, for “War Photographs as Exemplars of Transcendent Identification”
UNDERGRADUATE SHORT FICTION AND DRAMA
First Prize (Tie)
- Talina Bastille, Biology, for “No Vacancy”
- Claire Thomas, Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences, for “Choose Your Own Adventure”
Second Prize (Tie)
- Sarah Bertis, Architecture, for “Seeking”
- Connor Giles, Chemical Engineering, for “Earth Seed”
Third Prize (Tie)
- Cameron Kee, Biology, for “Maybe Goodbye”
- Julia Fantacone, Computer Science, for “Echo Chamber”
Honorable Mentions
- Sean Concannon, Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication, for “Tech Support”
- Caitlyn Egan, Computer Science and Business Management, for “Man’s Best Friend”
- James Hopkins, Game and Simulation Arts and Sciences, for “The Brazilian”
GRADUATE SHORT FICTION AND DRAMA
First Prize
- Ni Ni, Industrial and System Engineering, for “The Life of Her”
Undergraduate Electronic Media
No prizes were awarded in this category.
GRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA
First Prize
- Diana Alvarez, Electronic Arts, for “Sonifying Nepantia”
Second Prize
- Matt O’Hare, Electronic Arts, for “Hologram Dialogue (Skeletons)”
Third Prize
- Kathleen McDermott, Arts, for “I Thought It Would Be Funny (An Epitaph, an Apology)”
UNDERGRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Molly Kerwick, Physics, for “White ©”
Second Prize
- Noah Tebben, Information Technology and Web Science and Business Management, for “Homefried”
Third Prize
- Joerene Aviles, Biomedical Engineering, for “1 A.M. Ramblings”
GRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Ainsley Pinkowitz, Materials Engineering, for “Investigating the Divergence of Science and Love”
Second Prize
- Robb Conrad Lauzon, Communication and Media, for “Soulbot: Search for Contentment (Tracks 1 – 6)”
Third Prize
- Nicole Mowder, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, for “Cumulonimbus”
GRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Ainsley Pinkowitz, Materials Science and Engineering, for "It was easier to love before I met other humans"
No other prizes were awarded in this category.
UNDERGRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Zachariah Spurrier, Physics, for "titles"
Second Prize
- Nicole Mowder, Mechanical Engineering, for "We May Shatter"
Third Prize (Tie)
- Casey Fong, Biochemistry-Biophysics, for "This In-Between, Two-Headed Thing"
- Nicholas Boni, Physics, for "Fixing a Hole"
GRADUATE FICTION/DRAMA
First Prize
- David Banks, Science and Technology Studies, for “Platinum”
Second Prize
- David Carabis, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, for “The Witching Game”
Third Prize
- Simon Ellis, Computer Science, for “The Great Egg Race”
UNDERGRADUATE FICTION/DRAMA
First Prize
- Gabriella Rollo, Biochemistry-Biophysics, for “Meeting the Parents”
Second Prize
- Claire Thomas, Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences, for “A Fairy Tale”
Third Prize (Tie)
- Nicholas Boni, Physics, for “We Used to do Cakes”
- Christina Papini, Biochemistry-Biophysics, for “Home-Style Breakfast”
Graduate Essay
First Prize
- Candice Lanius, Communication and Rhetoric, for “Finding Rhetorical Agency in the Data Science Machine: Understanding Emerging Climate Change Arguments from Automated Data Modeling”
Second Prize
- J. Parkman Carter, Architectural Sciences, for “Hearing vs. Listening”
Third Prize
- Robb Lauzon, Communication and Rhetoric, for “Ambience as Social Construction at a Troy Restaurant: The Ethnography of Material Rhetoric”
UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY
First Prize
- Nicolaas Verbeek, Computer Science, for “Style as Substance: Visual Elements in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”
Second Prize
- Laura Antoniello, Computer Science, for “Captain America”
Third Prize
- Rafael Ramos, Biomedical Engineering, for “3D Bioprinting: A novel approach to tissue fabrication for implementation in vivo”
GRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA
First Prize
- Stephanie JenningS, Communication and Media, for “Going Outside”
No other prizes were awarded in this category.
UNDERGRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA
First Prize
- Nicholas Boni, Physics, for “Fifteen Years Later”
Second Prize
- Demetrius Green, Civil Engineering, for “Let the Rain Fall”
Third Prize
- Rajas Nagpurkar, Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences, for “A Disorganized Collection of Writings”
UNDERGRADUATE FICTION/DRAMA
First Prize (Tie)
- Doug Norton, Computer Science, for "Wind and Snow”
- Ryan Scaringe, Business and Management, for (Screenplay) “Eden-Esta”
Second Prize
- Nolan Feola, Biology, for “A Sequential Symphony”
Third Prize
- Brian Kaszuba, Biology, for “Thank God Nutella is Sticky”
Honorable Mentions
- Francesca Huber, Computer Science, for "Hunger"
- Gabriella Rollo, Biochemistry/Biophysics, for “Home Again”
- Sara Wartofsky, Mechanical Engineering, for “House Gremlins”
GRADUATE FICTION/DRAMA
First Prize
- Simon Ellis, Computer Science, for “I Feel Like I Could Run Forever”
Second Prize
- Britney Summit-Gil, Communication & Rhetoric, for “Tell her, Sue”
Third Prize
- Jacqueline Bowler, Communication and Rhetoric, for "Tamaryn’s House”
UNDERGRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Madison Wyatt, Physics, for (Collection) Shadows From Behind
Second Prize
- Deborah Winograd, Biology, for (Collection) Showers and Sifting
Third Prize
- Conner Riel, Computer Science, for (Collection) Various Poetic Works
GRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Ainsley Pinkowitz, Materials Engineering, for (Collection) I Try Not to Spend Too Much Time on the Internet
Second Prize
- Jacqueline Bowler, Communication and Rhetoric, for (Collection) A Collection of Poems
Third Prize
- Britney Summit-Gil, Communication and Rhetoric, for (Collection) Selected Poetry
UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY
First Prize
- Graham Ramsey, Information Technology and Web Science, for “The Bamboozled American Effect”
Second Prize
- Kathryn McGuire, Computer Science, for “Window-Sized City”
Third Prize
- Andrew Rainville, Business and Management, for “A Great Oft-Forgotten”
GRADUATE ESSAY
First Prize
- Robb Conrad Lauzon, Communication and Rhetoric, for “’Good Night, Planet Earth. Good Night, Humanity’: A Eulogy for a Lunar Rover”
Second Prize
- Candice Lanius, Communication and Rhetoric, for “The Path of Least Resistance: An exploration of non-human agency in a workplace survey”
Third Prize
- Simon Ellis, Computer Science, for “What if Watson Got Board?: Using cognitive computing to play highly-complex tabletop games”
UNDERGRADUATE ELELCTRONIC MEDIA
First Prize
- Brendan Bequette, Electrical Engineering, for “Rensselaer Autonomous Roving Vehicle”
Second Prize
- Eric Chin, Architecture, for “Affinity”
Third Prize
- Abigail Agosto, Nuclear Engineering, for "Catcher in the Rye Trailer”
GRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA
First Prize
- Arun Ghandi, Electrical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, for “Perception”
Second Prize
- Stephanie Jennings, Communication and Rhetoric, for (vine game) “Inevitable”
Third Prize
- Simon Ellis, Computer Science, for (game) “The Hall of the Fount of Artois”
UNDERGRADUATE FICTION/DRAMA
First Prize
- Branson Gerst, Chemical Engineering, for "In Service to Cannibals"
Second Prize
- Jony Rozon, Physics and Applied Physics, for "Nick Gogan’s Bed"
Third Prize
- David Gardiner, Mechanical Engineering; Electrical; and Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Mechanical Engineering, for "The Black Waitress"
GRADUATE FICTION/DRAMA
First Prize
- Simon Ellis, Computer Science, for "The Legends We Make Ourselves"
Second Prize
- Anthony Maiorana, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, for “Bitter Summer"
Third Prize
- Marco Fernando Navarro, Communication and Media, for "The Neck of Jesus"
UNDERGRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Jonah Duch, Materials Engineering, for Poems: 2013 – 2014 (collection)
Second Prize
- Mary Dalton, Electrical Engineering, for Broken Dolls (collection)
Third Prize (Tie)
- Bridget Cohen, Information Technology and Web Science, for Orange Pop (collection)
- Brandon Win, Psychology and Biology, for Friday Night (collection)
GRADUATE POETRY
First Prize
- Jedediyah Williams, Computer Science, for "Cindy" (within the collection An Outside Joke)
Second Prize
- Adam Daskalakis, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, for "An Ode to Melancholy Manifesto”
No other prizes were awarded in this category.
UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY
First Prize
- Nico Rappoli, Mechanical Engineering, for "Jaws—A Horror Film Adaptation"
Second Prize (Tie)
- Elizabeth Anderson, Sustainability Studies, for "The Legacy of Ian McHarg: GIS and Urban Planning"
- Kihwan Kim, Electrical Engineering and Electrical Computer and System Engineering, for "February 12th of 2011"
Third Prize
- Christina Bush, Biology, for "Who Saved Whom?"
GRADUATE ESSAY
First Prize
- Jason Coley, Communication and Rhetoric, for "Critical Discourse Analysis of the NRA’s Response to Sandy Hook"
Second Prize
- Ben Schneiderman, Architecture, for "Choice of Nightmares: Psychoanalysis Meets Conrad and Kafka"
Third Prize
- Elizabeth Anderson, Sustainability Studies, for "The Legacy of Ian McHarg: GIS and Urban Planning"
UNDERGRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
First Prize
- Frank Appio, Electronic Media Arts and Communication, for "No Symbols for Cymbals”
Second Prize
- Nathan Fullerton, Electronic Media Arts and Communication, for "Feedback"
Third Prize
- Chan Wei Sheng Jonathan (Jonathan Chan), Communication, for “The Half and Half Man”
GRADUATE ELECTRONIC MEDIA ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
No prizes were awarded in this category.