Students express science through literary work
Cleveland Clinic literary award winners: (front row, from left) Victoria Floyd, Cara Murthy, Izabella Jamsek, Niki Radish; (back row, from left) Ryan Thaxton, Liana Huge, Allyson Pesta, Carly Parker, Angel Tran, Eleni Packis
Ten Westlake High School English students earned awards from the Cleveland Clinic for their literary interpretations of peer-conducted scientific research.
The Cleveland Clinic eXpressions Language Project is an interdisciplinary program that utilizes written communication to engage high school students in the world of scientific research. Through project-based, peer-to-peer learning, students produce literary interpretations of research documented by Cleveland Clinic summer interns.
The students produced literary works mirroring the research of fellow students Andie DeMarsh and Lauren Choban, summer science interns with the Cleveland Clinic. DeMarsh studied mother/baby bonding, while Choban studied concussions – a hot button topic in the news in recent months.
This is the companion program to the original eXpressions contest focusing on art. This is the second year the WHS English Department has participated in the writing program. Mindy Clark, Amy Klenz and Ann Peebles each had students submit entries.
A blue ribbon was awarded to junior Carly Parker for “Each New Day.”
Red ribbons were awarded to sophomore Eleni Packis for "White Walls” and junior Angel Tran for “This Bright Light.”
White ribbons went to junior Victoria Floyd for “The Trap,” junior Izabela Jamsek for “Darkness Dreams Up Babies,” sophomore Allyson Pesta for “If Only,” sophomore Nicole Radish for “Miss Angeli” and sophomore Ryan Thaxton for “The Last Two Weeks.”
Honorable mentions were awarded to sophomore Liana Huge for “Hospice” and junior Cara Murthy for “Hospice.”
Winners will receive cash prizes and their work will be mounted and displayed along with the winning art projects from WHS in a special exhibit at the Great Lakes Science Center, which opened in January.