Two peer writing consultants from the Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors received top awards from the East Central Writing Centers Association at the organization's conference on March 4 at Western Michigan University.
Allie Oosta, a senior from Grand Rapids, received the Tutor of the Year Award, and Jen Torreano, a senior from Negaunee, was named Leader of the Year. It was the first time in the association's history that the top award recipients were from the same institution. The ECWCA serves writing centers in high schools, colleges and universities in six states.
Ellen Schendel, director of the writing center and associate professor of writing, said both students epitomize the caliber of the center's student consultants. "They both have a strong sense of themselves as writers and a generous spirit," she said.
Torreano has spent the last two years working as lead consultant in the center. She recently completed a Student Summer Scholars project that contributes to ideas for a writing center-library collaboration when the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons opens. After graduation, she plans to pursue the fields of publishing or museum studies.
Oosta has worked at the writing center for two years. She will
graduate in April and plans to apply to graduate schools that have
strong English composition and rhetoric programs.
