Seven PEL students recognized for writing excellence

 Left: (l-r) Writing Excellence Award nominees Trace Taylor, Troy Ippolito, Chrissy Jackson, Matt DiPalma, and Writing Excellence Award winner Jasmine Rothgeb with PEL Director of Writing Services Alaina Tackitt. 

by Craig Anderson

photos by Anne W. Anderson

PEL senior Jasmine Rothgeb was presented with one of Eckerd College's 2016 Writing Excellence Awards at the PEL Celebration Reception held Saturday, May 21, in Cobb Gallery on the Eckerd main campus. Rothgeb, majoring in American Studies with a core discipline in Environmental Humanities, also received a cash award and a notation on her diploma.
 

But, with a newborn baby at home, she almost didn't attend the celebration.

“When I emailed Jasmine to see if she would be at the reception," Tackitt said, "she wasn’t sure she could attend because she has a one-month old daughter. I pressured her to come, because I knew her family would be excited to know that she is no longer a nominee, she is a winner!”

Six other PEL seniors, nominated for Writing Excellence Awards, received certificates of achievement from PEL Director of Writing Services Alaina Tackitt.

Alaina Tackitt (l) with Writing Award nominee Chris Fort.

In addition to Rothgeb, PEL nominees, who came from many disciplines, included:

• R. Matthew DiPalma, majoring in Humanities with a core discipline in History,
• J. Christian Fort, completing a Concentration in American Culture and Society,
• Heather M. Hollister, completing a Concentration in Business Management,
• Troy Anthony Ippolito, majoring in Organizational Studies with a corporate focus,
• Christine A. Jackson, majoring in Organizational Studies with a corporate focus, and
• Trace Carol Taylor, completing a Concentration in Creative Non-Fiction with a minor in Anthropology.

PEL graduates take pride in knowing they have acquired and demonstrated writing competency that sets them apart professionally and prepares them to succeed in graduate and professional advanced degree programs. One way Eckerd College students demonstrate proficiency in writing is through the Writing Exhibit, a selection of papers that show competency in four academic genres of writing: narrative/descriptive, argumentative/persuasive, interpretive/analytic, and an extemporaneous (timed) writing.

While all students -- residential and PEL -- must successfully pass the Writing Exhibit in order to graduate, a small number of students each year are recognized for having submitted outstanding work by being nominated for a Writing Excellence Award.

“I was so proud to have so many PEL seniors nominated this year,” Tackitt said. “And it was great that most were able to be at the reception, so they could be recognized by family, friends, and peers.”

Craig Anderson is the Tampa campus Office Manager and the PEL Academic Writing Coach.