Nine of the University's most talented writers were recognized with Katey Lehman Creative Writing Awards in poetry writing, fiction writing and journalism this month.

Alyce M. Wilson (senior-broadcast/cable), Jason Rekulak (junior-English) and Laura Wexler (junior-English) received first prize in the respective categories of poetry, fiction and journalism. Rekulak and Wexler could not be reached for comment.

The annual contest, sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Communications, awards $750 prizes in each category. The contest was established and is endowed by Frank P. Smeal and Mary Jean Popp Smeal in memory of Katey Popp Lehman, who was a columnist for the Centre Daily Times and a 1942 University graduate.

This year's winners in poetry and fiction were selected by a panel of University professors, while the journalism category was judged by David R. Jones, assistant managing editor of The New York Times.

Donald Sheehy, assistant professor of American literature, said it was difficult to pick the finalists.

"The stories were interesting and very different from each other. What I looked for was a different kind of voice, a unique perspective, a story that I felt wasn't told before. After that . . . I looked for sophistication and polish in the technique itself," Sheehy said. "It was encouraging to see all that creative activity."

Wilson, recipient of the $325 first prize in the poetry category, said, "I'm just glad there's an award like this at Penn State that encourages people to write. I think that's important."

Wilson was selected from 76 poetry submissions for her three poems, "London Underground -- 20 Minutes Past New Year's Eve," The Spectra of Galaxies (a Zen Joke) and "Live in New York," a celebration of Gilda Radner's life.

Wilson said she has been writing poetry seriously for eight years and identified herself as an Emily Dickinson fan.

Although many may consider it daunting to enter a writing competition, Wilson said she was not intimidated.

"I thought I had at least as good a shot as any," Wilson said. "It does give me confidence in my poetry and I'm definitely going to submit poems to magazines and other contests."

Leonard M. Dickter (senior-English), winner of the $275 second prize in journalism for his article "All Dressed Up and No Place to Park: State College's Fight for the Street," examined the parking situation in State College from the perspective of both the borough and the University.

Dickter cites classwork and his interest in newspapers and magazines as essential to his development as a writer.

"You can't write for a certain medium unless you're familiar with the medium to begin with," Dickter said.