2025-2026 Students' Guide for Foundations Writing Contest Winners

"Where Words Decide" by Adrian Parker 

From Sylvia Chan’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Adrian Parker, and I am soon to be a sophomore at the University of Arizona majoring in Medicine and minoring in Health and Human Values and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Originally from Toronto, Canada, I am deeply passionate about healthcare and community service. My experience includes working and volunteering as an EMT, a pharmacy assistant, and a dental receptionist and manager. I’ve also enjoyed giving back through volunteering with the Canadian Blood Services and the Alzheimer’s Society. In my free time, I love weightlifting, playing basketball, exploring cities across Canada and the United States, and learning new languages (currently learning Spanish!).

"Almond Joy" by Charlie Cockrell 

From Kirk Wisland’s Foundations Writing course 

"From Frustration to Fluency" (shared anonymously) 

From Sean Chadwick’s Foundations Writing course 

"The TV Was Never Broken" by Sabrina Arredondo Garcia 

From Kevin Fedewa’s Foundations Writing course 

Sabrina Arredondo García is a writer and multidisciplinary artist from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, a city in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. She is an avid reader and proud bilingual speaker who enjoys connecting with people through storytelling and caring for others. She is currently a medical student at Universidad del Valle de México while also pursuing a degree in Public Health through the University of Arizona. She previously completed a degree in fine pastry arts alongside her high school studies. When she isn't studying or writing, she explores other creative pursuits, including analog collage-making, which she shares on Instagram as @wokehum4n. Through her work, she explores the ways art can reach parts of the human experience that medicine alone cannot.

"Green Roofs Are the Future" by Jailyn Bri Vazquez 

From Kindall Gray’s Foundations Writing course 

Hi everyone, I'm Jailyn Vazquez. I am a second-year student at the University of Arizona's College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA), who's majoring in Architecture. As an architecture student, one of the many topics that are prevalent to us is sustainability and how we can create buildings that are able to minimize environmental harm and negative health impacts. One of these methods/subtopics that have always interested me are green roofs, which has become a growing trend in modern day urban design. I decided to write on this topic as something that could serve as a learning opportunity for our community here in Tucson, as more people should be able to learn about these modes of construction, and how green roofs are being used in areas surrounding them, such as at the ENR2 building.

"In Memory of the Western" by Harry Jimmie Kidonakis 

From Lydia Paar’s Foundations Writing course 

I’m Harry Kidonakis, a rising sophomore majoring in Film and Television.  I’ve spent my entire life engrossing myself in movies, and this essay is part of a long journey towards understanding their place in American culture and grappling with their often uncomfortable history. In writing about the western, I found there was so much to say, and so many interesting threads I could’ve followed, that I was inspired to dive even further into the genre upon completion.  My hope is that anyone reading will be similarly inspired, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my work in this space.

"The Difficulty of High School English Classes in the United States" by Gwen Shetlar

From Katie Johnson’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Gwen Shetlar and I am a second-year student at the University of Arizona double majoring in English and Creative Writing. I decided to write about the need to increase the difficulty of high school English classes because I felt that expectations weren’t high enough while I was in high school. As an English major in college, I have come to understand the importance of rigorous English classes even more, especially in the wake of Covid-19 and with the availability of generative AI undermining education.

“A Finger Tracing Words: Jacqueline Woodson’s Rhetoric in ‘What Reading Slowly Taught Me About Writing’” by Adam May

From Danny Clifford’s Foundations Writing course 

Most bios start with a sentence like "My name is _____." In a shocking stunt of creativity, I've decided to breach the genre norm and move that phrase to my third sentence. My name is Adam May. I'm a student of landscape architecture here at the University of Arizona with a passion for creativity and learning. I love to read and am an avid writer, even if I step on the toes of convention so much it decided to start wearing steel-toed boots when I'm around. My hobbies beside reading and writing include more reading and writing, as well as getting outside and enjoying nature. I'm not sure what else you care to know about me, but I guess I'll end with something inspirational and vaguely true, like "I hope to one day visit the moon" or "I dream of becoming a professional alligator wrangler."

"Access Versus Confrontation: The Quiet and the Loud" by Sophia Mercea 

From Kindall Gray’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Sophia Mercea and I am about to start my sophomore year at the University of Arizona studying Veterinary Science. As a Tucson native, I have always had a strong connection to my community, including the university, and I have always had a deep passion for helping animals. On campus, I am involved in the Delta Gamma sorority and I enjoy participating in the volunteer and philanthropy events we hold. I especially enjoy those that support animal welfare and use the help of service dogs for our philanthropy Service for Sight to give guidance to those who are visually impaired. Outside of school, I enjoy working out, spending time with friends, volunteering at animal shelters, and exploring new places around Tucson. In the future, I hope to become a veterinarian who owns her very own clinic and make a meaningful difference in the lives of both animals and their owners.

"Is Mariah Carey’s It’s Time 2025 a slap in the face to the lower class?" by Hailey Lynn Heller 

From Maureen McHugh’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Hailey Heller, and this will be my second year at U of A. I am currently studying for my bachelors in global media! I have lived in Milwaukee Wisconsin my whole life and for college I decided to do U of A's online campus. Writing has always been important to me since I was little. It has always been one of my strengths and something worth being proud over. One of my biggest goals with starting college was to learn how to write stronger for my higher education. This writing piece was something different that I had ever done, but I was determined to find out how to write an entire rhetorical analysis on a TikTok video. I wanted to be able to challenge myself with different media-based sources to include and cite. I also wanted to share a current controversy. Once I finish my degree, I hope to find a post-grad job and to be able to get out of food service!

"14 Days in May: The Death Penalty’s Hidden Torture" by Sabina Coan 

From Kindall Gray’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Sabina Coan. I am heading into my second year as a Franke Honors student studying philosophy, PPEL, and studio art. Outside my studies, I enjoy painting, photography, and filmmaking. Due to my background in visual storytelling, I always aim for a vivid narrative style in my writing. “The Death Penalty’s Hidden Torture”, my response to the documentary 14 Days in May, challenged me to balance that narrative style with the more conventional structure of analytical essays. I really enjoyed the ensuing writing process, especially because the balance I was striving for mirrors the balance that a documentary like 14 Days in May must itself strike! Similarly, while completing my culminating research project for ENGL109, I was intrigued by a number of blog posts that provided some of the most thought-provoking evidence for my work. Because their authors write purely from their own fascination and for a varied audience, the blog posts—from their overarching ideas down to individual word choice—involve both intellectual rigor and individuality. I continually aim to maximize both in all of my creative work.

"Barriers and Institutional Solutions for International Student Mental Health" by Thea Loekeboe

From Eric Baker’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Thea Løkebø, and I am a legally blind international student from Norway studying Optical Engineering. When I am not frustrated over math homework or writing endless lab reports, you’ll find me in the swimming pool or walking to a club meeting with wet hair smelling like chlorine. I compete for Norway's national swim team and for the U of A para swim team. I am currently training for the Para European Championships in September in Turkey.

I chose to research the issue of access to mental health care for international students because the experiences described in the literature felt recognizable as an international student myself. I am honored to win the category of research based writing and hope my paper might help push universities to move past passive support models and take proactive action to make mental health care reachable for international students, providing help for their specific struggles.

No title, by Lucas Gregory Grisham 

From Foundations Writing course 

I have always had good grades and put effort into my schoolwork, and I plan to transfer this skill into university. I have a dream to go to graduate school in Biomedical Engineering and develop skills in rehabilitative and assistive engineering, so that I can get a RESNA certification. My dream is to run my own biomedical engineering company with an emphasis in rehabilitative engineering. Fun fact: I like The Owl House! 

"Arguments on Abolition: Kahler v. Kansas the Case that Abolished the Insanity Defense" by Caroline McComb

From Rafael Celaya-Gonzalez’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Caroline McComb, a rising Sophomore here at the University of Arizona. I'm a psychology major and a human development and family sciences minor. This essay gave me a chance to examine the legal side of the psychological field and the laws surrounding mental illness and the treatment of defendants. While my primary focus is not on law as a future therapist, researching into that world is important so I can be well informed to protect myself and my future clients. My research into the legal system and the laws and structure within the US Government proved truly beneficial, giving me better insight into the world I exist in, and I encourage others to do the same.

“Algorithmic Biases and Overrepresentation of Physiological Age in AI-Imaging Models: Why a Shift in Developmental Perspective is Necessary” by Cindy Huynh 

From Kristen Gregory’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Cindy Huynh, and I am a sophomore at the University of Arizona majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Statistics and Data Science. As an aspiring healthcare provider and researcher, I've always been fascinated by the emerging advancements and extensive capabilities of medical imaging technologies. Having the opportunity to research these topics has only helped deepen my interest in exploring the multidisciplinary fields of biotechnology and epidemiology in greater depth. I hope that with this project, I'm able encourage more academic discussion and extend that same interest to others in the same way.

"A Composition of Thoughts" by Amya Gabrielle Prophet

From Kirk Wisland’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Amya, a computer science major and W.A. Franke Honors student from Plano, Texas. When I’m not studying, I enjoy listening to electronic music, playing video games, and watching anime. Writing about these interests academically helped introduce an element of passion into my work and has allowed me to surpass the cold essays I used to write in high school. This portfolio showcases my favorite things and how they supported my growth as a writer.

"On Dia de los Muertos" by Victoria Lynn Lopez

From Kirk Wisland’s Foundations Writing course 

“Project 3” by Destinee Estrella Gonzales 

From Kristen Gregory’s Foundations Writing course 

Destinee Gonzales is a junior at the University of Arizona pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Classics with an emphasis on Classical Civilizations and a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Science with a minor in Criminology. Her career focuses on environmental, biological, and social influences on crime and creating early interventions to prevent it. As well as creating more accessible and less stigmatized mental health initiatives for underrepresented/stigmatized groups. Having been born and raised in Tucson, Destinee grew a passion for literature, reading and writing becoming loved hobbies and large impacts on her life. With the recent uptick in Generative AI, and it's effects on literature and literacy, this project became a way to express frustration and raise awareness about the risks of long-term usage/reliance. 

"Madison Saltz's Portfolio Mixtape" by Madison Emily Saltz

From Sylvia Chan’s Foundations Writing course 

"A Cheesy Reflection on a Grate Semester" by Heather Bell 

From Rafael Celaya-Gonzalez’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Heather Bell and I’m attending the University of Arizona with the class of ‘29, majoring in Psychological Sciences. I hope to pursue research and earn my PhD someday, but I also love pursuing creative passions and making my work a fun experience. I love to play my flute, read new stories, and write in new, creative ways. I hope to continue writing throughout my academic career and I hope this writing remains fun and new, making people laugh in all sorts of ways.

Course Portfolio by Cindy Chau Bao Huynh

From Kristen Gregory’s Foundations Writing course 

My name is Cindy Huynh, and I am a sophomore at the University of Arizona majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Statistics and Data Science. Reflection is something I value greatly, both in writing and thought. Aside from showcasing my work throughout the course, this portfolio represents a place where I was able to meaningfully reconnect my goals and values as a writer, now standing as a memoir of my growth in my approach to writing. As I continue to grow as a writer, I hope to take these reflections of growth with me as I construct future works of writing with greater purpose and meaning.