A&M-Texarkana announces winners of community engagement contest
Texas A&M University-Texarkana recently announced the winners of the annual Program for Learning and Community Engagement paper contest.
Six prizes were awarded in the research category, with two given for creative writing. Students wrote about this year’s PLACE theme of “Race and Ethnicity.”
Dr. Brian Billings, who organized the event, thanked the students for attending the program events and putting their thoughts on paper.
“The caliber of work entered in this year’s competition is a testament to the significant interest in and impact of the PLACE program and this year’s theme of ‘Race and Ethnicity,’” Billings stated in a press release. “It’s also a reflection of the strength of the faculty at A&M-Texarkana and their dedication to student success.”
Kashyra I. Thompson won first place in the undergraduate scholarly paper category for “Does Race Affect the Use of Deadly Force?”
Thomas Strawn won second place for “The Good Ol’ Boys: Internal Racism in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.”
Maria Byrd won third for “Using Curanderos in Hispanic Communities.”
Esther Pippins won first place in the graduate scholarly paper category with “The Communicative Styling of an Angry Black Woman.”
Shelby L. Elliott won second place for “The Public School Dilemma: Analyzing Student Prejudice Influence by Geographic Isolation in the Texarkana Area.”
Third place went to Shea Phillips, with “From White Privilege to Restorative Justice: Examining Systemic Racism in Public Schools.”
Hollis Thompson won first place in the creative writing category for “The Brier Patch.”
Casey Purifoy of Fouke, Ark., won second place for “Skin Geography.”
First-place winners received a cash prize of $350, with second-place recipients receiving $250 and third-place recipients
taking home $100.
Dr. Del Doughty, dean of the College of Education and Liberal Arts, and Dr. Thomas Cutrer, cultural historian and spouse of university President Emily Cutrer, judged the competition.
“Bernie Wolf,” a jazz-age musical version of “Beowulf,” is the final PLACE program of the year. The drama department will present the program at 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow in Eagle Hall at the University Center, 7101 University Ave., Texarkana, Texas. General admission is $8, and $5 for students.