Students' Guide for Foundations Writing Contest

1st place: Karly Odegaard, “The Monster Under the Bed”

Sylvia Chan’s English 109H course

My name is Karly Odegaard and I am a second year student at the University of Arizona majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Spanish. I’m from Mukilteo, Washington, a place near and dear to my heart, my love for the place and the people who live in it inspired me to write this essay. This essay is for Anna Bui, Jake Long, and Jordan Ebner, you are not forgotten.

Content warning: this narrative discusses topics of gun violence and mass shootings; please use your best judgment if you find these topics triggering. 

2nd place: Ariel Heinrich, “Something Fundamentally Biological”

Emma Thomason’s English 109H

My name is Ariel. I am a third year student studying Microbiology with minors in Molecular & Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, and Chinese Language. I am fascinated by the biological world around me, something which greatly informs and inspires my writing pieces, as well as what I study currently and hope to do in my future. Once finished with my undergraduate degree, I hope to pursue a career in bacterial research. Outside of my studies, I greatly enjoy cooking, playing the cello, running, and watching Star Trek.

3rd place: Deeksha Reddy, “Rediscovering My Voice” 

Mariya Tseptsura’s English 107

I’m Deeksha Reddy Gangumalla, a sophomore majoring in Statistics and Data Science with a minor in Entrepreneurship. I’m an international student from Hyderabad, India. Through my essay, I hope to share an experience that resonates with fellow international students, inspiring them to navigate challenges with confidence and a smile.

1st Place: Elizabeth Ghartey, “The Myth of the Work-Life Balance” 

Jon LaGuardia’s English 109H

Elizabeth Ghartey is a sophomore at the University of Arizona, majoring in mathematics and biochemistry with a minor in French. She is an undergraduate researcher at the College of Medicine, and hopes to pursue a career in medical research. Her essay was inspired by the distinct shift in work habits due to the rise of remote work. She credits Dr Jon LaGuardia’s Honors English course with strengthening her writing and enhancing her perspective.

2nd Place: Vidya Iyer, “Quality Education: A Rich Man’s Reality, A Poor Man’s Dream” 

Nicholas Gschwendtner’s English 109H

3rd Place: Gabriella Stone, “The Impact of Introductory Creative Writing Workshops on Undergraduate College Students’ Metacognitive Ability, Perceived Confidence in Their Writing, and Sentiments of Inclusivity in University Writing Courses” 

Sean Chadwick’s English 102 course

My name is Gabi Stone, and I am a junior studying Creative Writing with a minor in French. I am primarily a fiction writer who explores the intersection between one’s place of residence and self-perception, though I enjoy writing creative nonfiction pieces as well. Creative writing workshops have enormously improved my writing during my career here at the UA, and I believe that everyone, regardless of their major, can benefit from taking at least one writingworkshop. I am honored and grateful to have my work featured here!

1st Place: Ariel Heinrich, “The Bird and the Machine– What Happens When ‘Progress’ is Let Go”

Emma Thomason’s English 109H

My name is Ariel. I am a third year student studying Microbiology with minors in Molecular & Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, and Chinese Language. I am fascinated by the biological world around me, something which greatly informs and inspires my writing pieces, as well as what I study currently and hope to do in my future. Once finished with my undergraduate degree, I hope to pursue a career in bacterial research. Outside of my studies, I greatly enjoy cooking, playing the cello, running, and watching Star Trek. 

2nd Place: May Felty,  “Fizzy Uplifting Drinks” 

Margaree Little’s English 102

My name is May and I’m a sophomore majoring in Design Arts & Practice with a minor in Psychology. I’m from Arizona, but I lived in Arkansas for a while and was born in California. Most of the time, I’m drawing or writing stories. I also like mathematics, classic rock music, and rainy days.

3rd Place: Vivian Pfleger, “‘ChatGPT and AI Text Generators:’ An Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies” 

Danny Clifford’s English 109H

Vivian Pfleger is in her second year at the W. A. Franke Honors College, majoring in Biology and double minoring in Spanish and Creative Writing. She will read anything she gets her hands on, from fantasy novels to scientific articles, and is fascinated by strange plants, airplanes, cross stitch, and the Sonoran Desert. She is also a commercial glider pilot, and earned her private pilot airplane rating in summer 2024.

1st Place: Kennedy McEnany, Lauren Aguayo, & Phoebe Gregory, “Meta-Analysis on Environmental Effectiveness: ByFusion's Plastic Repurposing as an Additive to Tucson's Recycling Initiatives.” 

A group project from Eric Dovigi’s English 109H 

Kennedy: 

My name is Kennedy McEnany and I am sophomore at the University of Arizona. As a Plant Science major minoring in French and enrolled in the Honors College, my interests are very interdisciplinary. Our group was inspired by our mutual respect for the planet and hope to improve local recycling protocols. As an out-of-state student from Missouri, I was able to compare different biodiversity concerns with my Arizonian groupmates. Our diverse interests and knowledge offered potential solutions that were combined to create this paper. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share it with you.

1st Place: Kennedy McEnany, Lauren Aguayo, & Phoebe Gregory, “Meta-Analysis on Environmental Effectiveness: ByFusion's Plastic Repurposing as an Additive to Tucson's Recycling Initiatives.” 

A group project from Eric Dovigi’s English 109H 

Phoebe:

I'm Phoebe Hai-lun Gregory, a second-year Honors student majoring in Theater Arts. Although I'm more creatively inclined, I've always been fascinated by our relationship to the environment. In my senior year of high school, a teacher's discussion about the pitfalls of recycling spurred my class to participate in a plastic repurposing program on behalf of our school. This group paper, “Meta-Analysis on Environmental Effectiveness: ByFusion's Plastic Repurposing as an Additive to Tucson's Recycling Initiatives," pulls from data from that project. Thank you to the Class of 2023 at BASIS Oro Valley and Mr. Fetkenhour for inspiring me to be better, and I'm grateful to have found another passionate group with my co-authors. 

1st Place: Kennedy McEnany, Lauren Aguayo, & Phoebe Gregory, “Meta-Analysis on Environmental Effectiveness: ByFusion's Plastic Repurposing as an Additive to Tucson's Recycling Initiatives.” 

A group project from Eric Dovigi’s English 109H 

Lauren: 

My group and I chose this topic because of our shared passion for conservation and the belief in the positive impact small actions, like recycling, can have. One of our group members, Phoebe, introduced us to the company ByFusion. We were drawn to the idea of incorporating a technological advancement into our project and found inspiration in the innovative work ByFusion is doing. We were also delighted to discover that the company is based right here in our hometown of Tucson. I am currently a sophomore majoring in Ecology and the Restoration of Rangelands, with minors in Anthropology and Italian.

2nd Place: Wayne Kline, “Alternatives to Incarceration: Their Effectiveness in Improving Health, Wealth, and Recidivism” 

Margo Steines’s English 102

My name is Wayne, and I am a Texas based online student within the University of Arizona’s Bachelor of Arts in Law program. Once completing my military service, I hope to utilize my degree to work as a compliance officer within a governmental agency. This essentially bridges the gap between my current career and my degree as I help to maintain the laws, polices, and procedures which keep the privacy and civil rights of U.S. citizens safe. In my spare time I love to run, play guitar, travel, and spend time with my family. I am extremely grateful to share my work with you, and I hope you find value within.

3rd Place: Grace Godinez, “A Modern Pixie Dream Girl” 

Kirk Wisland’s English 109H

My name is Grace Godinez, and I am a Sophomore in Optical Science and Engineering! Though my eld may seem remarkably distant from the realm of our Writing Program, I have always loved writing in my free time. My freshman year composition course gave me a much needed break from the ever-present weight of my STEM courses, and I am honored that my writing from the class was selected! I feel my writing has always been a form of expression, so I always try to incorporate some fun into my work, even for assignments. With our open ended assignment to write a research-based paper on any topic of our choosing, I was excited to explore a genre of ction I’ve always held dear: The Manic Pixie Dream Girl. As it turns out, this topic became more of an overarching theme for my rst semester of college. I couldn't be more delighted to have summarized my freshman year experience with such an interesting topic, and I’m grateful that my community of fellow-writers have taken interest as well!

1st Place: Melody Kosters, presentation titled “Music as an Aide for Struggling Students” 

Ryan Downum’s English 102

Melody is a sophomore in Biomedical Engineering major with minors in Materials Science & Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Arizona. In addition to her love for all things STEM, Melody has been an avid musician for over 8 years and a music researcher for nearly 4 years. Music has had a profound effect on her life, motivating her to look for connections between music and happiness, memory, and other aspects of life through research. In her free time, Melody enjoys singing, playing video games, working as a Resident Assistant, and being an active member of SWE, BMES, Engineering Ambassadors, Theta Tau, and the Navigators.

2nd Place: Maribeth Demer, Portfolio website 

Sharon Christian’s English 101

Maribeth is a transfer student majoring in Medicine with a minor in Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. As a non-traditional student, she values resilience and understands its impact on her journey and those around her, a theme reflected in the story conveyed through her profile. In her free time, Maribeth volunteers at a butterfly exhibit and is expanding her knowledge of artificial intelligence in healthcare at the ASTEC facility, where she is inspired by the multidisciplinary team of professionals driving advancements in medical training and patient care.

3rd Place: Roman Orozco, Letter to the Editor 

Nataly Reed’s English 102

Roman Orozco (he/him/el), is currently a second-year at the University of Arizona majoring in Veterinary Science and minoring in Middle Eastern & North African studies. Roman is a native Tucsonan and plans to pursue a DVM in veterinary medicine after his undergraduate studies. Roman chose to highlight his "Letter to the Editor" to directly address the UA's contributions to the genocide in Gaza and hope to appeal to upper administration about student demands to end supporting the Israeli war machine in the Middle East.

1st Place: Christina Wanyi Xie, Course Portfolio website

Andy Jiahao Liu’s English 106

My name is Xie Wanyi and I was born and raised in Chongqing, China. I’m currently a third-year Environmental Science undergraduate student at the University of Arizona’s Northwest A&F University Joint International Microcampus in Shaanxi, China. Growing up in a country where English is a foreign language, this course has been incredibly helpful in improving my English writing skills. As a result, I wrote a reflective piece on what I’ve learned from it. I’m especially grateful to my instructor, Andy Liu Jiahao, for his guidance and support throughout the writing course.

2nd Place: Kevin Kang Feng, Course Portfolio website

Andy Jiahao Liu’s English 106 class

3rd Place: Camilla Xiao Yang,  Portfolio website 

Andy Jiahao Liu’s English 106 class

My name is Camilla Xiao Yang, I am 20 years old, from Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. I am currently a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental science through a collaborative program between the University of Arizona and Northwest A&F University. I have a passion for scientific research and writing, and I hope to publish more outstanding written works in the future