Writing Awards 2025 Recording

Lasell University's Writing and Writing Across the Curriculum Programs are proud to present the annual Writing Awards to celebrate achievement in student composition across the University. Please join us to hear outstanding work from the winners of the First Year Writing Awards and the Ruth Paez Braun Connected Learning Writing Awards, which honor student writing from across programs and courses. While we celebrate these winners, we will also debut the new issue of Fresh Thoughts, our annual publication of exemplary work from Writing 101, and acknowledge all of the student contributors. If you are unable to attend in person, the Zoom link is below.

The Ruth Paetz Braun Undergraduate Connected Learning Awards Program at Lasell University is made possible through the generous support of Ruth Paetz Braun, class of 1954, in honor of her 50th reunion from Lasell University. The purpose of this program is to support annual writing awards for undergraduate students in conjunction with the University's annual Connected Learning Symposium April of each year.

Fresh Thoughts is a yearly publication of top student essays from Writing I, as well as artwork from our Graphic Design students. All students in Writing I classes are invited to submit an essay, and a panel of faculty judges chooses the winning essays to be published. Students from graphic design courses then create illustrations for each essay and design a cover for Fresh Thoughts. Click here to download the newest edition of Fresh Thoughts.

Lasell University

2025 Writing Awards Ceremony

Fresh Thoughts Submission Winners

Fresh Thoughts Essays from Writing I

Jaelyn Affsa, Baylee Bianchi, Aidan Colella, Meg Collins, Aria Conti, Gabrielle Gagnon, Lica Ineza, Masha Kozlov,
Freddie Matthis, Sophie Peek, Macayla Plante, Katty Rolfe, Karla Rosado, Morgan Sandler, Mieka Schaffer,
Allison Schuberg, Jashawn Spencer, Tia Spenlinhauer, Kanano Takai, Emma Toomey

Cover image artist: Ivo Sousa Martins, used under creative commons license via Upsplash
Graphic Design by Gregory Cass, Director of the Writing Program

Ruth Paetz Braun Prize Winners

First-Year Writing Awards

First Place

Carson Tucker

"The "Break" Through"

Second Place

Clementine Burns

"The Freedom of the Ocean"

Third Place

Caitlin Callahan

"Retirement Home Blues"

Honorable Mention

C'Nya Desir

"ECHRC"

Honorable Mention

Ava Marfoglio

"RAIL Project"

Writing Across the Curriculum Awards

100 Level

Karaline Baldini

“Alternative Methods to Replace Animal Testing,”

200 Level

Sarah Lapierre

“Beauty is Pain: Museum Exhibition Research”

Ethical Reasoning

Suraiya Seema

"Capital Punishment"

300/400 Level

Jade Durkee

“Structural and Functional Brain Changes in Mental Disorders: Bipolar”

Creative Writing

Sarai Fryer

"Roadkill"