Why do things happen when and where they do? How do we know that what we do today will have an impact on what someone does tomorrow? Our Writing Contest and publication of the accompanying journal, Off the Lake, is now in its third year. When it began, we met resistance! Many students thought they just didn’t have what it takes to write. However, we pushed them and encouraged them, and people followed through and submitted stories about their communities, their dreams, their hardships, and their successes. As a result, the winners received free courses at Ivy Tech Northwest. They weren’t “lucky winners,” but people who had taken upon themselves the responsibility to think and act and do something new. Thoughtful college students realize that taking responsibility is a first step toward success, and our contest is a demonstration of their success.

   Last year our contest expanded to include artwork. The result is a beautifully-illustrated second issue of Off the Lake, due to come out this fall. This year you may submit academic or creative essays or pdf files of your original artwork. We’ll keep encouraging you to submit your work, because we recognize that success breeds success, and we want you to succeed. When you do, we know we have succeeded, too. We want you to walk down the aisle at graduation and wave to your family, to your friends, and to us. It takes a lot of people standing behind each of us to help us succeed, and we don’t always know who they are, where they come from, or what will happen next. Toni Morrison said “Some very small incident that takes place today may be the most important event that happens to you this year, but you don’t know that when it happens. You don’t know it until much later.” This contest may be one of those incidents for you. Participate!

Sincerely,

Nancy Riecken

Assistant Program Chair, English,

and Chair of Ivy Tech Northwest’s Writing Contest Committee

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2010 Writing Contest
This year's writing contest has begun!!!. The theme is The Future. Enter your submissions here!  Questions?  Ask them here!.

Coming Soon!
The 2009 Edition of Off the Lake will be available for purchase soon. Keep checking your Ivy Tech email for more information!