Black Hawk College writers recently shared their stories in the multi‑genre BHC Storytellers’ Contest. The competition celebrated creativity across campuses and was open to all Black Hawk College students and employees.
The contest was sponsored by the Writers Guild at the Quad-Cities Campus advised by Claudia Alonzo and Stephanie Belowske, and the Creative Writing Club at the East Campus advised by Georgjean Pitsoulakis.
The winning stories are as follows:
Comedy/Satire
“Greedy Goody Goblin” by Ruthann Leesman of Port Byron, Quad-Cities Campus student
Faculty/Staff
“Your Favorite Pair of Jeans” by Jaina Gliva, access services coordinator
“The Birthday Stream” by Atticus Garrison, reference and instruction librarian
Fantasy
“The Lonely Dragon” by Eric Zavala of Moline, Quad-Cities Campus student
“The World that Waited” by Ava Hoskins of Rock Island, Quad-Cities Campus student
Horror
“It Gets Home Before Me” by Ava Hoskins
“The Home Stretch” by Natalie Rotramel of Moline, Quad-Cities Campus student
Memoir/Personal Essay
“After Isn’t Over” by Ava Hoskins
“I know, you knew” by Mia Merkel of Galva, East Campus student
Poetry/Song
Untitled by Carsen Dekeyrel of Andalusia, Quad-Cities Campus student
“Accommodations Within Reason” by Hailey Ortiz of Coal Valley, Quad-Cities Campus student
Romance
“Still-Marsh Bride” by Najah Vesey of Rock Island, Quad-Cities Campus student
“The Colors of Love” by Mia Merkel, East Campus student
Science Fiction
“More Time” by KayNiya Willoughby of Milan, Quad-Cities Campus student
“Automaton” by Ruthann Leesman
Thriller/Suspense
“Moth at the Window” by Natalie Rotramel
“The Assignment” by Ava Hoskins
