Palmer member Kallia Wade ’12 received the Newsom
Creative Writing Award top prize in fiction for her short story, "Recipe
for Saltfish" at Whittier College’s annual Spring Honors Convocation on
April 8. The story was chosen from a group of stories submitted annually
to the fiction and poetry writing competition on campus and is chosen by a
panel of judges and the English Department. Kalli says, "I’m an English
major, however, I like writing critical pieces and I don’t think of myself
as very creative. I decided to take an advanced fiction writing class to
see how I would do. My professor encouraged me to integrate my Jamaican
culture into my stories."
This story is written as a recipe; it’s actually the
Jamaican national dish, Ackee and Saltfish. The story unfolds between the
cooking directions and combines what’s happening in the plot into the
instructions. Told in the first person, the story is about a
mother-daughter relationship and the turmoil that arises when a new
person, the mother’s love interest, enters the household. Set in Jamaica,
it focuses on how the daughter grows up and how her relationship changes
with her mother after she is raped.
The story will be published in the Whittier College
Annual Literature Review, sponsored by the college’s Sigma Tau Delta
International English Honor Society chapter. Fitting since this chapter
calls itself the Jessamyn West Chapter, for a fellow Poet and a founding
member of the Palmer Society. Kalli is considering entering the piece into
a national story competition with the help of her professor. In addition
to majoring in English, Kalli is also a Child Development major, a
resident advisor, and member of the Black Student Union, Organization
Mondiale pour L’Education Presolaire, and P.A.R.I.V.A.R.
The Convocation is a part of WC’s annual Family Weekend
and includes a formal processional, student speakers, choir performance,
and faculty in full academic regalia. During this event, academic
achievement, service, and leadership are recognized. Several awards are
handed out to students for outstanding scholarly performance at the
ceremony.
Kallia wasn’t the only Palmer to be honored for her achievement.
Stephanie Hui ’11 was doubly honored for Outstanding Research in Child
Development and Outstanding Student in Psychology: Service Category.
Stephanie is president of Psi Chi- Psychology National Honor Society and
recently presented her work with two other students, "Conformity in
Racial, Religious, Homophobic, and Gender Prejudices: Perceptions versus
the Real Deal" at the Society for Research on Adolescence in Philadelphia
this past February. Elle Foran ’11, our Palmer Alumnae Scholarship Award
recipient, was also recognized as Outstanding Student in Psychology:
Academics.
