Seventeen Northwestern State University students were selected as winners of the Argus Language contest sponsored by Argus, the campus literary magazine. The contest recognized student work that expressed its own language through poetry, fiction, non-fiction, photography and artwork.
First place in poetry was awarded to Allie Atkinson of Berwick for “Cleanse.” Maggie Harris of West Monroe was second for “The Good Walmart Sweater” while Nicholas Jones of Bossier City was third for “Color Me In.”
Casey Alfultis of Zachary, received first in fiction for “The Heart Tailor.” Harris was awarded second for “The Garden of Portraits” with Skylar Guidroz of Port Barre in third for “Procrastination and Imagination” and Ruben E. Smith of Clayton getting honorable mention for “Old New Mexico Blues.”
In non-fiction, Bruce Craft of Baton Rouge won first for “Fifteen Minutes with Freaks for Jesus and the Snake Lady.” Christian Frost of Metairie was second for “Good Old Saint Expedite,” Ashante Knox of Natchitoches was third for “Now You’re Speaking My Language and Craft received honorable mention for “Why My Son Won’t Eat With Me.”
Sean McGraw of LaPlace finished first in photography for “Air Show” with Kailey Wisthoff of Lake Charles earning second for “The Beach is Calling.” Emilee Landry of Slidell was third for “darks and lights” and Alexis Trosclair of NewIberia was the staff pick for “The Sea Speaks.”
In fine arts, Laura Scronce of Maringouin was awarded first for “Winding Road.” Ariel Bailey of Natchitoches won second for “Yin and Yang” and was the staff pick for “Sea Dragon.” Maddie Manuel of Woodworth received third for “The Mighty Kraken.”
The honored works will appear in the 2018 edition of Argus, which will be published later this spring. Katie Rayburn of Pineville is the editor of Argus.