News
June 2, 2009
Contact: Michele Regenold, Go! editor, (515) 296-0835, editor@go-explore-trans.com
Iowa State University student wins Go! magazine writing contest
Katie Fuller, student winner, short fiction, Go! magazine writing contest 2008—2009.
Ames, IA—Katie Fuller, graduate student in English, won the best short story award ($500 Iowa State University Book Store gift card) in the student division of Go! magazine’s first writing contest. Fuller was one of 23 high school and college students to enter the contest, which attracted 50 submissions from the United States and India.
Other winners included
- Juli Heaton of Seymour, Tennessee, for her short story, “Destination Vindication”
- Carla Joinson of Arlington, Virginia, for her non-fiction article, “Icebreakers lead the way”
Both writers won $1,000 cash prizes for best submissions in the adult division.
Fuller’s story, “Going Places,” is about Annie, who is excited for her brother to come home for the summer from study abroad. On the long drive to Chicago to pick him up, Annie is challenged by the driving situations and what it means to grow up. Fuller was born and raised in Maquoketa, Iowa. Following graduation, she hopes to work in magazine or book publishing. This is her first publication.
Heaton’s humorous story, “Destination Vindication,” is about Amanda’s battle with her dad's intensive driver-training program, and “Sandra,” his new GPS navigation unit. Heaton writes legal decisions during the day, but after hours she escapes to the world of fiction. At her father's insistence, Heaton logged 2,000 interstate miles under his scrutiny before getting her license.
Joinson’s article, “Icebreakers lead the way,” shows how icebreaker ships provide integral support to the world economy by helping to keep waterways open for shipping. Joinson has written over 200 articles for adults and children, as well as 3 books for young adults. She has a special interest in history, and is working on a nonfiction book set in the early part of the last century.
The contest offered two submission categories—short story and non-fiction. There were also two age divisions—student (age 16 and up, high school or college) and adult. There was no winner in the student division for the non-fiction category. All winning submissions can be read online at www.go-explore-trans.org in the June 2009 issue.
The goal of the contest was to encourage writers and readers to think about how integral transportation is to our everyday lives. With the help of a grant from Iowa State University's Professional and Scientific Council, Go! offered $3,000 in cash prizes and Iowa State University Book Store gift cards.
Of the 50 total submissions, 30 were non-fiction and 20 were fiction. From adults, there were 27 submissions, and 23 came from high school and college students.
Go! magazine is published six times during the school year by the Institute for Transportation at Iowa State University.
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