WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes University graduate student Iris Ouellette, of Pittston, was awarded the Etruscan Prize at the Wilkes University Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing closing banquet June 21.
The Etruscan Prize is awarded each year to a member of the Wilkes Creative Writing student community who submits one page of any genre (prose, script, poetry or play) that sings. This was the 10th consecutive year Etruscan Press recognized a Wilkes University Creative Writing graduate student for their writing excellence.
Ouellette’s submission, “Into the Acadian Sea,” was the prize winner. Ouellette is pursuing her master of fine arts in the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing and previously completed her master of arts in fiction.
Etruscan author Renée D’Aoust judged the award. D’Aoust commented about Ouellette’s submission: “’Into the Acadian Sea’” evokes haunting longings for the sea and for love lost. The scene is palpably real, yet emotionally mysterious. Grief-stricken worries of the human heart are set against a stark, beautiful landscape. While the central character waits for the return of one who does ‘business in great waters,’ we, the readers, also wait, enchanted by this page, ready for more.”
