Student Works Published

Five Chatfield College students were published in the Spring Issue of The East Fork Literary Journal, a publication from UC Clermont. All of the students were enrolled in the Creative Writing class at Chatfield’s St. Martin campus, taught by Professor Buz Ecker.

“It’s very rewarding as an educator to see the talent of students being recognized in this way,” said Ecker.  “I am very proud of all of them.”

Bella Durham, Lexie Derricks and Rivers Lewis all published poems in the journal.  The poem that Lewis wrote, “Pinot Noir,” was awarded Editor’s Choice, which came with a certificate and cash prize. Lewis, who graduated this past weekend, was also asked to have the poem published in a separate anthology.

“It was an honor to be published.  I was incredibly excited,” said Lewis.  “I have always wanted to be a writer, so this was a big moment for me.”

Durham and Derricks were also pleased by the recognition of their talent. “I was so happy when I found out I got published.  It was such and exciting and accomplished feeling,” said Durham.  Durham’s poem is titled “Snow Around”

Derricks’ heartfelt poem is entitled “Losing You”, and she says that being published makes her feel accomplished. Students Courtney Sedgwick and Katie Smith were both winners in the fiction contest of the Journal and were also excited by the honor.

“Being published was on my bucket list, so I was overwhelmed with joy.  I feel like I’ve accomplished so much,” said Sedgwick. The title of Sedgwick’s short story is “Mom’s Favorite Song” and Smith’s is “So Alone.”

Smith added, “I felt honored when I found out I was published.  I’ve always loved writing so it felt like a huge accomplishment to me.”

To read the submissions of the Chatfield students, visit  the UC website at http://www.eastfork.us/issue-18–poetry.html.

A Creative Writing Workshop class will be taught at Chatfield College as a summer enrichment course at the St. Martin campus. To learn more or to register for a summer enrichment course, visit https://chatfieldedge.org/st-martin-enrichment-courses/