Bellman Awards recognize the best BHSU writers

The Annual Stewart Bellman Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Writing recognizes the best writing in Black Hills State University courses.

The official ceremony announcing the winners and recipients of the awards for the 2015-16 school year took place Thursday, April 28 in the David B. Miller Student Union.

The Bellman Awards program was developed to encourage and honor excellence in writing from students across the disciplines and has been in place for 17 years. The Awards include three major categories: Composition, Literature Analysis and the General Writing category.

Winning students, listed below, received a monetary prize and recognition during the awards ceremony.

Composition I and II

1. Katelyn Woten, business administration-accounting major from Potter, Neb.

2. Erin Broberg, English education major from Rapid City

3. Tristen Wecker, elementary education major from Minatare, Neb. and Ariel Pozorski, English education major, Rapid City (tie)

Literary Analysis

1. Caitlin Hill, English major from Veblen      

2. Erin Broberg, English education major from Rapid City and Ariel Pozorski, English education major from Rapid City (tie)

3. Denim Lind, English education major from Spearfish and Cassie Kindred, English education major from Rapid City (tie)

General Writing

1. Caitlin Hill, English from Veblen      

2. Shaley Lensegrav, mass communication major from Meadow and Kaylee Lamb, English major from Whitehorse (tie)

3. Denim Lind, English education major from Spearfish

Dr. David Cremean, professor of English at BHSU, served as a Bellman Awards judge for several years prior to his new role as awards coordinator.

"Each category has two judges who review all of the submissions in the category," says Cremean. "In total we received over thirty essays this year, with the most submissions in the Literature Analysis category."

Caitlin Hill, one of this and last year's winners, went on to publish during the course of the year in creative non-fiction journals and publications.

"Bellman Awards work towards encouraging students to step out of their comfort zone and, confirm the quality of BHSU student writers," says Cremean.

Awards are given to students in memory of Stewart Bellman, a professor of English who taught at BHSU for 30 years.

Dr. Wanda Bellman, BHSU professor emeritus and her late husband Steward made numerous contributions to the University. The Honors Center at Black Hills State University was named after the Bellmans in October 2015 and is now officially known as the Stewart and Wanda Bellman Honors Center recognizing the tremendous impact the longtime professors had on the campus and community.

In addition to the name on the door, the Center has a true Bellman influence thanks to the donated artwork, literature and furniture that the Bellman donated for the Center.

For more information about Bellman Awards, contact Cremean at 605-642-6713 or David.Cremean@BHSU.edu.