English – Outstanding Senior 2020
Sara Quenzer
Redding, California
Degrees/Majors/Minors:
- Major in English/Creative Writing
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication – Journalism & Media Production
Clubs, Organizations, Leadership, and Service
- LandEscapes – Editor-in-Chief
- Cable 8 – Producer, Director
Internships and Employment
- Hallmark Cards – writing and editorial intern
- WSU Writing Center – mentor consultant
- LandEscapes – Editor-in-Chief
Awards and Recognition
- 2020 College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior in English
- Honors Thesis – Passed with Distinction
- Jennie Brown Rawlins Scholarship in Creative Writing
- Basil and Ella Alexander Jerard Scholarship
- Sarah Weems Award for Creative Nonfiction
- Cougar Academic Award
Faculty Comments
“Sara is an excellent and talented writer as well as an outstanding leader and critical thinker. I have had the opportunity to observe her leadership skills as managing editor and then as overall editor of LandEscapes. Sara Quenzer is one of the sharpest students I have worked with in my 30 years as a teacher.
“Her sharp feel for language and poetry, not to mention marketing, has also earned her a job right after she graduates. She will be writing greeting cards at Hallmark. Such a job may sound trite (Hallmark – really?), but it is anything but. Writing advertising and greeting card copy is tough, demanding work that requires a deep and creative understanding of language and people. The work is done on strict deadline. Such work will also be a great training for going on in editing and publishing.” –Dr. Peter Chilson
“Although Sara was only a freshman when she first took my English 302, she was by far the most outstanding student in the class. She is an excellent editor: Well organized, accessible, talented, and brilliant. Sara also understands the concept of gratitude…and for that, I am grateful.” –Dr. Donna Potts
Personal Statement
College has been the best, worst time of my life, and that in itself is maybe not a unique experience. To those who made it the worst time of my life: I learned a lot because of you, and I’ve started to find myself again. So, ha. To those who made it the best time of my life: Thank you. I couldn’t have made it through this without supportive and loving family; impossibly sage and compassionate best friends; the kinds of mentors I thought only existed in movies; and Jr., Maybel, and Oscar (are those pets? I’ll never tell). I hope you’ll be reading more of my words in the future, and I hope your spirits are up despite the whole global pandemic thing. If they’re not, maybe, I don’t know, buy some Hallmark cards or something? Just a fun, completely-selfless-and-random thought.
Honored Faculty and Mentors
- Donna Potts, chair and professor, Department of English
- Buddy Levy, clinical professor, Department of English
- Peter Chilson, professor, Department of English
- Debbie Lee, Regents professor, Department of English, assistant director, Visiting Writer Series
- Alison Boggs, instructor, Murrow College of Communication
- Benjamin Shors, clinical associate professor, Murrow College of Communication
Future Plans
Sara will be moving to Kansas City, Missouri, to begin a job with Hallmark Cards. In the future, she hopes to publish a novel, host a podcast, and earn enough money to help her family pay off the mortgage!