2024 Walter F. Spara Writing Competition winners celebrated at annual jubilee

Front row, left to right: First Place Winners Grey Brister, Abigail Linsky, and Skai Estares. Back row, left to right: Ava Bryson, Brandon Ballesteros, Orhlando Bonilla-Marin, Margaret Llewellyn, William Billings, and Justine Montalvo.

Once in a while, there is a teacher who sparks a passion within his or her students to make a mark on the world in some way – to excel, to create. Walter F. Spara, a Pensacola Junior College (now Pensacola State) English professor from 1966 to 2000, touched the lives of thousands of students with his love of literature, initiated the College’s creative writing program and became the creator of the now-nationally recognized literary journal Hurricane Review (first named Half Tones to Jubilee), at the prompting of his enthusiastic students in the mid-80s. The students were so determined to have a publication in which to show their work that they chipped in $100 of their own money to bring their vision to life; moved by this, Mr. Spara also personally donated $100 to assist them in accomplishing that dream.

This legendary educator is the namesake for PSC’s annual Walter F. Spara Writing Competition that keeps the spark alive for multitudes of student writers as they aspire to share their thoughts and dreams with the world at large through their words. In his own poem, “Creating,” Spara shared, “…fight to write your own poem, be it tedious melody; the exercise in half tone will stretch to jubilee.” The PSC creative writing faculty continue to see their students stretched to new heights as Mr. Spara’s legacy lives on through this annual competition, and winning entries are considered for publication in the Hurricane Review and The Kilgore Review for readers around the world to appreciate for hundreds of years to come.

English and Communications Instructor Lauren Baugus shared that the highlight of overseeing the competition is that “these are students who really want to showcase their work. I love to see these students excited to show off what they have come up with and be proud of it, even if they were a little nervous. There was so much creativity being reflected, as well, and that’s something we [educators] don’t always get to see reflected in the classroom.”

Ms. Baugus opened the Nov. 19 reception in the College’s Anna Lamar Switzer Center by welcoming numerous faculty in attendance, including English and Communications Department Head Dr. Tracy Peyton and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brenda Kelly. Lauren also thanked President Dr. Edward Meadows for supporting the competition by providing the cash prizes and the refreshments, then shared some history about Walter F. Spara. Each of the category winners received their awards, then shared their pieces – some for the first time in public.

Freshman Abigail Linsky won the Essay category with “My Life’s Adventures on Choctaw Street,” written in homage to her childhood years in Oklahoma. She smiled and said, “On my first day of [English] class, I told my professor I was really nervous because I didn’t think I was a good writer. My essay was an assignment for class, and he told me I should submit it, so I did. It’s really thanks to him that I have the confidence now…I would like to write more in the future now.”

Abigail is currently completing her A.A. in the Computer Science advising track and plans to earn a bachelor’s degree before working as a freelance web or app developer in her own company; she is currently working on developing a gaming app. She said, “People don’t think about it, but computer science and programming actually have a lot of creativity involved, and that’s why I enjoy it so much because I can make [gaming apps] all my own and design them exactly how I like.”

In wrapping up the evening, Lauren Baugus affirmed, “I am so proud of each of you, especially that you chose to read tonight; I know that is pretty intimidating. Thank you so much for sharing your work with us” She went on to address the audience, saying, “Maybe you were a little aware of the creative capacity of your loved one whom you are here supporting tonight, and I hoped you enjoyed the variety of knowledge, creativity and skill that was demonstrated here. This is a real celebration of these winners.”

As per tradition, first-place winners of each category are awarded $100, second place $50, and third place $25; prize money is provided by President Ed Meadows, a real supporter of the English and Communications Department’s efforts to keep the spirit of creativity alive in their students, in homage to Mr. Spara. The nine 2024 Walter F. Spara Writing Competition winners are as follows:

Poetry:

• First: Grey Brister – “tylertown, mississippi”
• Second: Brandon Ballesteros – “Human Condition:
• Third: Ava Bryson – “Strings”

Short Fiction:

• First: Skai Estares – “Sour Face”
• Second: Orhlando Bonilla-Marin – “Black Gold”
• Third: William Billings – “How to Hunt a Human Being”

Essay:

• First: Abigail Linsky – “My Life’s Adventures on Choctaw Street”
• Second: Margaret Llewellyn – “Goodbye, God”
• Third: Justine Montalvo – “Forced Sterilization Laws in 2022”