UNO Contest Seeks Spanish Language Creative Writing Submissions

OMAHA – The power of prose knows no language or age – just creativity.

From now until October, faculty from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) are encouraging Nebraska students to submit their creative works to the eighth annual “Creative Writing Contest in Spanish.”

The contest, which celebrates the Spanish language and encourages its creative use, is open to all students in the state currently attending classes in grades five through 12. The submission deadline for all entries is Wednesday, Oct. 18.

This year, submissions will be narratively focused and be divided into two categories by style and grade level. All submissions are asked to be between 250 and 600 words

Students in grades five through eight are asked to write a fiction narrative inspired by a specific collection of artworks currently on display at the Joslyn Art Museum.

Students in grades nine through 12 are asked to provide a personal, non-fiction narrative with a theme of social justice and social responsibility.

“This is an opportunity for future generations, both locally here in Omaha and across the state, to have their voices heard,” said Claudia Garcia, Ph.D., associate professor of foreign languages at UNO and contest organizer. “Each year we receive some truly amazing writings and I expect this year will be no different.”

Applications require a registration form, which is available online, and can be submitted electronically or in print form. Submissions can be sent to Garcia at csgarcia@unomaha.edu or at the following address:

Creative Writing Contest
c/o Dr. Claudia Garcia
6001 Dodge St.
ASH 301 R
Omaha, NE 68182-0192

As part of the contest, students and their families, as well as teachers, are invited to a free scavenger hunt and workshop at the Joslyn Art Museum on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 1, with an awards ceremony to take place on the UNO campus Friday, Nov. 17.

This year’s contest is sponsored by UNO’s Department of Foreign Languages, Masters of Arts in Language Teaching (MALT), Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) and College of Arts and Sciences.