Students present compositions at virtual conference

Graduate student Abigail Swanson of Grand Island, Nebraska, Erin Hayhurst of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Hannah Pfeifly of Stromsburg, Nebraska, made presentations. Ezra Hare of Chadron was accepted to read his paper Materials, Bodies, and Creatures, but was unable to present.

CSC alum Ashtyn Blacksheep kicked off the presentations with her short fiction piece, A Good Day’s Work. Her writing touched on how growing up, providing for family, and morality can be shaped by unique home situations.

Even after graduating, Blacksheep stays informed about Sigma Tau Delta events. She said the conference was the perfect place for discourse about writing projects and to connect with old friends and make new ones. She said the conference inspired her to continue developing her own writing and engage with others.

“The conference reminded me that we never stop learning even after degrees are earned,” Blacksheep said.

The poetry session was Blacksheep’s favorite portion of the conference.

“There’s nothing like hearing a poet recite their own work just the way they intended it to be heard.”

Swanson presented Echoes Toward Another, a poetry collection exploring themes of connection, loss, and the beauty of the ordinary.

Hayhurst read We Wait in the Dark, a fiction piece examining the impact of loss on the mind. Pfeifly read Security Blanket, a fiction piece that delves into the negative messaging often directed at those struggling with mental disorders and distress.