CFP Reminder + Keynote Speaker

The English Graduate Student Conference "Re-envision, Re-formation, Re-creation" is rapidly approaching on February 25th. The deadline for paper and creative works proposals is January 15th.

We are proud to announce that Dr. Jasbir Puar from Rutgers University will be providing this year’s keynote address.

Please revisit the CFP here and consider presenting at this great professional development opportunity!

EGSO Announces Travel Scholarships

The English Graduate Student Organization is pleased to sponsor two travel scholarships for graduate students this year. One award will be for the 2012 Association of Writers & Writing Programs conference (AWP), and the other is for the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCCs).

Both awards will be approximately $290 to cover hotel and transportation expenses. To apply for the scholarships, please fill out the attached application and submit the completed form and supplementary information to EGSO's gmail account (VT dot EGSO) by January 15th, 2012. Please direct any questions to the same email.

VT MFA Poetry Winners Announced

Congratulations to Rob Kenagy, whose poem “End Notes” has won the Virginia Tech/Poetry Society of Virginia Award, sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. MFA writers Michael Roche and James Stolen placed, respectively, as first and second runners-up. 

Rob’s poem will earn him a small cash award, the amount of which will be determined by the Academy of American Poets.

Rob and Michael both will be nominated for the 2012 Best New Poets anthology from the University of Virginia Press. Nominated poets get to submit two poems each to Best New Poets, which showcases the work of 50 emerging writers each year.

Virginia Tech will also nominate all three poems for the 2012 Intro Journals Project, an annual competition from the Associated Writing Programs. Eventual winners of the Intro competition will receive an award letter, publication, and a $100 honorarium.

The judge for this year's competition was Susan B. A. Somers-Willett (who visits Virginia Tech next spring for a reading). All poems entered in the competition were submitted to her in standard format, without any information to identify the author. 

Congratulations again to Rob, Michael, and James.  We know you’ll do a great job representing Tech!

VT MFA Fiction Winner Announced

Congratulations to Kedon Willis, who has won the Virginia Tech Fiction Prize for his short story “Sat’day.”  Mark Derks and Sandra M. Yee placed, respectively, as first and second runners-up. 

Kedon’s story will earn him a small cash award, and Virginia Tech will also nominate his story for the 2012 Intro Journals Project, an annual competition from the Associated Writing Programs. Eventual winners of the Intro competition will receive an award letter, publication, and a $100 honorarium.

The judge for this year's competition was John Dufresne (who visits Virginia Tech next spring for a reading).  All stories entered in the competition were submitted to him in standard format, without any information to identify the author. 

Congratulations again to Kedon.  We know you’ll do a great job representing Tech!

EGSO Conference - Call for Papers

The Virginia Tech English Graduate Student Organization is now accepting proposals for the 2012 conference "Re-envision, Re-formation, Re-creation" on February 25, 2012. EGSO welcomes proposals for paper, panels, and creative works that challenge preconceptions, explore neglected or newly discovered areas, rethink assumptions, and ultimately create new knowledge.

Please submit your 250-500 word abstract for a 20-minute paper in .doc, .docx, or .rtf format as an email attachment through EGSO's gmail account (VT dot EGSO) by January 15th, 2012. Creative works should include a short, descriptive abstract and a sample of the work to be considered. In your email, please include your name, affiliation, email address, phone number, title of paper, and a brief biographical statement. However, do not include your name on the abstract itself.

For more information, please look through the conference pages to the right or contact EGSO President Kaitlin Clinnon through EGSO's gmail account (VT dot EGSO). This is a great professional opportunity for graduate students, so we hope to have many submissions!

VT/Hollins Joint MFA Reading November 12th

Please join us in welcoming Hollins students in this second year of joint readings between our two prestigious MFA programs.

Connecting Ridges

Virginia Tech & Hollins MFA Reading Series

Saturday, November 12, 2011
6:30 p.m.

Ceritano’s Ristorante
428 N. Main St.
Blacksburg, VA

This Fall 2011 reading features:

• Matthew Bishop (Hollins)
• Khalilah Boone (VT)
• Brandon Courtney (Hollins)
• Mark Derks (VT)
• S.H. Lohmann (Hollins)
• Courtney Robb (Hollins)

Come with a big appetite for Ceritano’s wood-fired pizzas and great prose and poetry from emerging writers!

EGSO Conference - Organizers Needed

EGSO is pleased to announce that our annual graduate conference will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 2012. The theme this year is an interdisciplinary understanding of "Revise, Remix, Recreate," and we'll be sending the call for papers out shortly. 

At this point we’re asking for assistance in organizing the conference. It takes a lot of work to plan a conference, and we appreciate all the help we can get! We have several committees set up to organize specific parts of the conference:

Panels Committee

• Write "Call for Papers" notice
• Read abstracts
• Determine panels
• Select papers
• Choose panel chairs
• Schedule panel time table
• Get necessary information to Communications Committee

Logistics Committee

• Secure rooms in Shanks for conference
• Set up and break down conference rooms
• Arrange for A/V equipment
• Manage panel presentations to help with A/V equipment

Hospitality Committee

• Organize breakfast
• Organize lunch
• Ensure availability of water throughout the day
• Man registration table/secure tags for everyone
• Generate checklist of hospitality tasks

Communications Committee

• Design/update flyer
• Develop registration form
• Design/update website
• Design/produce signage

If you want to be part of any conference committee, send an email to EGSO’s gmail account (VT dot EGSO) with your preference, and we'll contact you with more information.

Not only is organizing the EGSO conference a lot of fun, but it also is a great line on your CV.