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2019 Twain Art and Writing Contest Winners Announced

Elmira, NY (05/15/2019) — The Center for Mark Twain Studies has announced the winners of the Annual Portraying Mark Twain Art Contest and the Mark Twain Essay Contest. First place prizes were awarded to Jamie Dorsey '21 and Rebecca Heagy '19, respectively. Jamie's winning piece in the Art Contest was a photograph of the Mark Twain gravestone taken from a dramatic angle that emphasized "Twain." His photo has already been used to advertise the spring Trouble Begins at Eight lecture series on the CMTS Facebook page. Rebecca was this years annual essay contest winner.

Honorable mentions in the Art Contest were awarded to Emily Selbert '20 for her photo highlighting several volumes of "Mark Twain's Letters"; Erica VanNostrand '20 for her self-portrait standing at the doorstep of the Mark Twain Study; and Shannon Strawinski '19 for her digitally enhanced photo of the Mark Twain statue outside of Harris Hall.Each student was awarded a monetary prize ranging from $75-$250 for their artistic and writing skills.

The 2020 Portraying Mark Twain Contest will open for entries at the end of May, 2019. All Elmira College students are encouraged to submit artwork that reflects some aspect of Mark Twain, his writings, or his life in Elmira. More information is available here.