My MFA thesis, MINE: El Despojo de María Zacarías Bernal de Berreyesa was a finalist in the 2020 San Francisco Writing Contest (nonfiction) and the California Historical Society 2014 Book Award Contest. It's now available on Amazon.
San Jose State University Awards, 2003-2017
I went to college later in life, determined to complete my degree before my children went off to earn theirs. I'm very grateful to the many professors who've encouraged and rewarded my efforts, long past graduations. Most of my writing would not have happened without them.
Special thanks to SJSU professors Andrew Fleck, Cathleen Miller, Samuel Maio, Revi Krishnaswamy, Susan Shillinglaw, and West Valley's Janine Gerzanics, who all spent so much extra time guiding me.
I went to college later in life, determined to complete my degree before my children went off to earn theirs. I'm very grateful to the many professors who've encouraged and rewarded my efforts, long past graduations. Most of my writing would not have happened without them.
Special thanks to SJSU professors Andrew Fleck, Cathleen Miller, Samuel Maio, Revi Krishnaswamy, Susan Shillinglaw, and West Valley's Janine Gerzanics, who all spent so much extra time guiding me.
Some of the personal essays, poems, or scholarship for which I won specific awards are published on this site and elsewhere.
Graduate: SJSU, 2010-2017
Bonita M. Cox Award for Classical and Medieval Studies
Ruth MacLean McGee Award for Outstanding Achievement in Non-Fiction
3 Phelan Literary Awards for excellence in poetry, travel, and fiction writing
Bonita M. Cox Award for Creative Nonfiction (2011)
Marjorie McLaughlin Folendorf Award for Creative Writing (2011)
Undergraduate: SJSU, 2003-2006
12 Phelan Literary Awards for excellence in critical and creative writing, SJSU (2005-06)
James O. Wood Shakespeare Award, SJSU (2006)
Bonita Cox Award for Creative Nonfiction Award, SJSU (2006)
Dorrit Sibley Poetry Award, SJSU (2006)
Josephine Chandler Humanities, SJSU (2005)*
Catherine Urban Scholarship for excellence in writing, SJSU (2005)
Robert Holloway Undergraduate Award for excellence in writing, SJSU (2005)
Two Olympiad of the Arts writing awards, WVC (2003)
English Department Honors Program, SJSU (2003-06)
Dean’s Scholar, SJSU (2005-06)
*Top award given within the College of the Humanities and Arts
Bonita M. Cox Award for Classical and Medieval Studies
Ruth MacLean McGee Award for Outstanding Achievement in Non-Fiction
3 Phelan Literary Awards for excellence in poetry, travel, and fiction writing
Bonita M. Cox Award for Creative Nonfiction (2011)
Marjorie McLaughlin Folendorf Award for Creative Writing (2011)
Undergraduate: SJSU, 2003-2006
12 Phelan Literary Awards for excellence in critical and creative writing, SJSU (2005-06)
James O. Wood Shakespeare Award, SJSU (2006)
Bonita Cox Award for Creative Nonfiction Award, SJSU (2006)
Dorrit Sibley Poetry Award, SJSU (2006)
Josephine Chandler Humanities, SJSU (2005)*
Catherine Urban Scholarship for excellence in writing, SJSU (2005)
Robert Holloway Undergraduate Award for excellence in writing, SJSU (2005)
Two Olympiad of the Arts writing awards, WVC (2003)
English Department Honors Program, SJSU (2003-06)
Dean’s Scholar, SJSU (2005-06)
*Top award given within the College of the Humanities and Arts