The ENGL 1000 Writing Studies 1 Literacy Autobiography contest began when Governors State University first started admitting freshman in 2014-2015. Winners from 2017-2020 are featured in OPUS. The submissions for the contest were literacy narratives written in response to assignments in GSU’s first-year writing course ENGL 1000, Writing Studies 1, typically taken during students’ first semester on campus.

The literacy narrative served as a foundational assignment in the first-year writing curriculum and asks students to reflect on and analyze the role that writing and reading play in their lives.

Of all the students who submit essays to the contest, four were selected to earn monetary awards and to be archived here.  First place:  $200; Second Place: $100; Third Place: $50; Honorable Mention: $25.

Awards were funded through the generosity of President Elaine Maimon and Dr. Mort Maimon.

Entries were judged by a committee appointed by the President’s and Provost’s offices.

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Manuscripts from 2020

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1st Place Essay,ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2020: Reading in Reverse, Sana S. Mahar

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2nd Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2020: No, You're Not, Ryan A. Santoro

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Honorable Mention - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2020: The Journey to Becoming Literate, Lauren C. Foley

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Honorable Mention - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2020: Why I Learned, Masen R. Ervick

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Third Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2020: Little Composition Notebook, Antionette Hasty

Manuscripts from 2019

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3rd Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2019, Anyinniana Little

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Honorable Mention - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2019, Rachel R. Beckmann

Manuscripts from 2018

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1st Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2018, Madeline Lomeli

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2nd Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2018, Alexandria Pavloski

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3rd Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2018, Marina Ibrahim

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Honorable Mention Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2018, April S. Sanchez

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Honorable Mention Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2018, Eunis Lukose

Manuscripts from 2017

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1st Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest 2017, Danuta Chlebek

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2nd Place Essay - ENGL 100 Literacy Autobiography Contest - 2017, Myiesha Boyce

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3rd Place Essay - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest - 2017, Lisa Palicki

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Honorable Mention - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest - 2017, Cameron Andriano

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Honorable Mention - ENGL 1000 Literacy Autobiography Contest - 2017, Sarah Shoaf