Central College’s annual Writing Anthology, a collection of exceptional student work from across the liberal arts curriculum, has been released for the 2020-21 academic year. This marks the 41st year for the Writing Anthology, which has been continuously published at Central since 1981.

Professor Emeritus of English Walter Cannon founded the project with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Writing Anthology can be viewed online at central.edu/writing-anthology.

It includes this year’s 10 pieces of work, as well as links to past issues. Emma Chervek, Class of 2021 from Altoona, Iowa, was named recipient of the John Allen Award, given to a student whose piece the selection panel deems to have superior rhetorical competence, high levels of readability, originality and insight. Gabi Anderson, Class of 2022, and Emma Carlson, Class of 2023, served as editors this year. Assistant Professor of English Valerie Billing and Assistant Professor of Music Sarah Van Waardhuizen served as advisors.

The Writing Anthology also honors the life of Renee Van Roekel, who died April 2, 2020, with her poem “Breakaway.” Van Roekel studied at Central for several years in pursuit of an English degree and was awarded a posthumous bachelor’s degree from Central in 2021.