Yesterday afternoon, the English Studies Department  held their annual English Studies Student Celebration & Recognition ceremony in the Miller Oval. Professors Katharine Covino and Diego Ubiera welcomed students, faculty, and staff to the event where  Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society students, creative writing award winners, and graduates were all recognized. 

English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy welcomed Local Storyteller, Teacher, and Alum Todd Goodwin to her Storytelling and Oral Tradition class this morning. After regaling the class with some harmonica playing, a song, and lighting the imaginary campfire, Mr. Goodwin told stories involving his father's dream car, a 1941 Studebaker.

The English Studies Department  held their annual High School Writing Awards and Creative Writing Awards Ceremony this afternoon in Presidents Hall. President Hodge welcomed attendees and spoke of the importance of creative writing as a tool for communication. First place winner, or their designees read their award winning pieces. All top prize and honorable mention writing award winners from area high schools were recognized.  Some of the first place high school winners' writing along with Fitchburg State student writing appear in the latest volume of Route Two literary publication.

English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy welcomed fellow English Studies Professor DeMisty D. Bellinger-Delfeld and Lori Steckervetz of the The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library to her Storytelling and Oral Tradition class this morning to share their unique stories with students. 

English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy welcomed  Fitchburg Historical Society Director  Susan Navarre to her Storytelling and Oral Tradition class this morning. Navarre gave a brief history of Fitchburg and offered topics of interest students may be able to use for a class project. 

Students in English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Storytelling and Oral Tradition class gathered in the The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library Archives where University Archivist Asher Jackson discussed what a university archives are, and how to research in this unique space. 

As part of our yearlong Community Read of Sonia Purnell's A Woman of No Importance:  The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II, faculty, students, staff and community members gathered in the  Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library for a discussion of the book and a presentation on prosthetics. The subject of the book, Virginia Hall, whom in 1942 the Gestapo sent out an urgent transmission regarding: “She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her.” had a prosthetic leg. Prior to English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy leading the discussion, Clinical Manager Max Nigrosh MSOP, CP of Hanger Clinic discussed the history of, and demonstrated various types of prosthetics. 

A panel of Emily Stark (Director of Disability Services), Dr. Danette Day (Education), Dr. Kat McLellan (Director of Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center), Shannah Sallah (Student Affairs, Veteran Services), Tanya Crowley (Director of Alumni and Family Relations), Nicole Salerno (Assistant Director of Study Abroad), Sandy Yu (International Student Coordinator), Dr. Elizabeth Swartz (Director of TRIO Student Support Services) visited English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Storytelling and Oral Tradition class to take part in an interview project for the course.

Students from English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's The Global Middle Ages course presented posters focusing on their research work as "medievalist for a semester" in the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library. Additionally, medieval-themed zines from Dr. Tracy's British Literature I: Adventure and Transformation were on display. The work will remain on display through Friday, December 20th, stop by and vote for your favorite - a Viewer's Choice Award will be presented at the end of the exhibit.

Student teams in English Studies Professor Dr. Katharine Covino's First-Year Experience (FYE) course each created a Public Service Announcement (PSA) which were judged, with a PSA about bussing issues coming out on top. Fitchburg Mayor Samantha Squailia visited the class to sign and give certificates to the winning team. Their efforts paid off as Mayor Squailia has already made improvements, and promised a bus stop shelter is ready to be installed on campus.