Each year the
Writes of Spring
committee endeavors to invite onto the stage talented professional
and student authors for the purpose of promoting the value of
writing to our campus community. For many of our students, this
festival (and the larger Arts and Cultural Programs series) becomes
their first experience attending a literary, live theater, or fine
arts event. Most are genuinely surprised. Some have to write
reviews. Here are snippets:
“I
was hesitant to wake up early in the morning to listen to poetry but
managed to get out of bed and made my way to the
Wray Theater.”
“I’m glad that I got a seat in the theater a little earlier because
it was packed […] the crowd seemed lively.”
“The stories were really interesting and others said it was really
catchy.”
“I had never heard a writer read on stage so I had no idea what to
expect […] he mesmerized me.”
“I felt captivated and was ready to learn more about this person who
wasn’t afraid to represent his cultures.”
“I remember hearing ‘wow!’ from someone in the audience, and I
noticed that everyone was smiling after she read.”
“I am truly inspired to know that a well known author would take
time out of his busy schedule to come to our community college and
read his work.”
“I was amazed along with others in the audience that throughout the
performance that what she had read was actually fiction writing.”
“The only thing that I was not happy about was that I didn’t get a
signed book.”
“It’s hard for me to explain in words the feeling of satisfaction I
got from hearing this writer speak.”
“I would definitely recommend this to other students […] I learned a
lot.”
“I’m the kind of person who is not interested in meeting or seeing
famous people, but this time I had to because I needed the extra
credit.”
Attendance and participation at the festival have increased every
year, and so we thank the Rio Hondo community for its continued
support.
Specifically,
we’d like to acknowledge:
-
Dr. Kenn Pierson,
Dean of Communications & Languages and Official Writes of Spring
Poet Laureate
-
Pat Alvarez
and
Wendy Gonzalez,
Division Secretaries
-
Traci Chavez
and
Cherisse Massaroitti, Communications and Languages
-
Auxiliary Services Organization
-
Dean JoAnna Downey
and the Division of
Arts and Cultural Programs
-
Gabriel Carrasco,
stage manager, Wray Theater
-
The
audio/visual expertise of
Manfred Othmer and
Dane Haines
-
The
Rio Hondo College Bookstore
-
Sylvia Viramontes
-
Sandra Rivera
and her posters, which pointed
the way…
-
El Paisano
-
The
Whittier
Daily News
and
San Gabriel
Valley Tribune
-
Wendybird
photography
-
The ubiquitous
members of Facilities
Services
-
Robert Samuelson
and
Erwin Figueroa in
Printing Services
-
Dr. Ted Martinez, Dr. Paul Parnell, and the Board of Trustees
Thanks also to:
-
Dana Vazquez, Karleen Curlee,
and
Anna Regalado for
their help with hosting events
-
Muata Kamdibe,
Libby Lee Curiel, Joshua Rodriguez
and
Holly Cohenour for drink distribution and donut
dodging
-
Our guest
authors and River’s Voice
contest winners who participated in this year’s event
-
All our
instructors who guided their students to the festival--thanks
for supporting your Writes!
Hope everyone enjoyed the program.
Sincerely,
The
2009 Writes of Spring Committee:
Tom
Callinan
Gail Chabran
Marie Eckstrom
Alonso Garcia
Georgia Gaspar
Daniel Osman
Lorraine Sfeir
Ralph Velazquez
Division of
Communications and Languages
