Marywood students and local high school students showcased their work at Bayleaf Live and Bayleaf Open.
The Bayleaf Live and Bayleaf Open combined last Sunday to showcase student works surrounding the themes of goodness, beauty, justice, the common good and the pursuit of truth. The event was one of many events that took place during Marywood’s Creativity Month.

The Bayleaf Open, which took place for the first time this year, invited local high school students to submit their creative works in addition to work submitted by Marywood students. Submissions were selected and featured in the Bayleaf. This year’s winners were given awards including the Barbara Hoffman English 160 Award, Creative Writing Award and the Bayleaf Open Art Award.

Marywood student Korah Martin won the Creative Writing Award winner for her poem “Atlantic City, New Jersey.” Marywood student Michelle Richar received honorable mention for this award for her short story “The Coffee Chain.”

Abington Heights High School junior Anna Brock and Marywood student Tristan Tregaskis both won Bayleaf Open Art Awards for their original artworks.

This year’s Literary Award Winner for the Fall 2017 edition of The Bayleaf was the poem “Thanks” by Eric Smith, a junior pre-physician assistant and applied philosophy major.

Smith told the audience that the poem was meant to show his struggles reintegrating back into society after his military service. Smith said he didn’t think his poem would be selected as the winner, but wanted to submit it for the benefit of others.

“If one other person gets something from it or a fellow veteran that was struggling like I was could get something out of it then maybe that would help,” Smith said.

Dr. Helen Bittel, English faculty advisor for The Bayleaf, encouraged Smith to submit his work.

Bittel said that the Bayleaf is open to students in all academic programs and that this inclusiveness allows for opportunities to learn from each other.

“We as readers of text and viewers of art have much to gain by looking and engaging in the creative expression of people coming from a variety of different perspectives,” Bittel said.

Amanda Duncklee, a senior English major and editor-in-chief of this year’s Bayleaf, said The Bayleaf can benefit writers and artists personally.

“It’s important that people feel confident enough in their abilities and that they want to contribute to the humanities and this community that we have here at Marywood,” Duncklee said. “I think everyone needs a space to express themselves.”

Annette Fisher, information literacy coordinator, gave out the Barbara Hoffman English 160 Awards at the end of the event. Fischer also discussed upcoming library events including StorySlam, Redesigning the Classics and the annual Spring Book Sale.

For more information about these upcoming events, contact Annette Fischer.

Contact the writer: [email protected]