Chattanooga State Community College recently welcomed Pulitzer Prize-winning Southern poet Jericho Brown to its award-winning Writers@Work series that celebrates Southern literature by integrating the work of selected authors into the curriculum of the Department's Composition Two course.

Each year, professors submit the strongest Composition Two essays focused on the Writers@Work text, and a panel of writing instructors serve as judges. This year's students prepared literary analysis essays on poems from Jericho Brown's The Tradition. 

Marleigh Meggs is a Memphis, TN resident, majoring in psychology who began her ChattState journey in August of 2020. Her entry, “George Floyd. Elijah McClain. Ahmaud Arbery.” was awarded $200 in first place. She is a student of Erica Lux, associate professor of English.

Jennifer Stewart, Chattanooga, is in her second semester majoring in Business Administration. Her entry, “Reader Response Argument” was awarded $175 in second place. She is a student of Dr. Keri Lamb, associate professor of English.

Mariah Laux is a Signal Mountain resident attending Chattanooga State as an Early College student from Signal Mountain High School. Her entry, “Diction and Imagery: Two Peas in a Pod” was awarded $125 in third place. She is a student of Ann Nicodemi, associate professor of English.

“In a media-driven world that shows a limited, and often stereotyped, view of the South, Writers@Work actively works to showcase and celebrate the diversity and rich culture of Southern people and give students a new understanding and appreciation for the culture and arts offered in the South,” stated Erica Lux, associate professor of English.

For more information about the Writers@Work series, contact Dr. Joel Henderson, Humanities department head, (423) 697-4403 or visit www.ChattBigRead.com.