The 2019 Jimmies L to R: Dimitris Tzoytzoyrakos, Christina Similien, Isabella Preisz, Zharia O’Neal, Catalina Acebal-Acevedo and Francisco Juaregui
(Photo by: Steve Cohn www.stevecohnphotography.com (c) 2019)
On Tuesday evening April 30, the six 2019 recipients of the Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award, aka the “Jimmy,” were introduced by their nominating professors and feted at the charming Ostrich Farm restaurant in Echo Park Los Angeles. This was the tenth year the Jimmies have been awarded and the significance of this milestone was fully embraced by everyone in attendance. Since its inception in 2010, 59 Jimmy awards have been awarded.
This year’s event also included some “news.” Another graduating senior, Lynn Tamayo, was recognized and celebrated in a special category of her own. Lynn completed her degree in English while working at USC for the past forty years. She is a published author and most deserving to be honored for her remarkable achievement.
Members of the English Department staff, Jimmy’s family, post-doctorial students and twenty-five faculty members were in attendance including the following who introduced their nominees for the Jimmy:
Professor Geoff Dyer: Dimitris Tzoytzoyrakos
Professors David Treuer and Aimee Bender: Zharia O’Neal
Professor Anna Journey: Christina Similien
Professor Elda Maria Roman: Catalina Acebal-Acevedo
Professor David Roman: Francisco Juaregui
Professor Chris Freeman*: Isabella Preisz
[*Professor Freeman stood in for nominating professor Joe Boone who was unable to attend]
After welcoming remarks by Professor Roman and introductions of his fellow committee members for this year’s Award, Professors Melissa Daniels-Rauterkus and David Treuer, Jimmy Gauntt’s mother, Hilary, made a special toast to mark the 10th year of the Jimmy Award. Borrowing from a pre-Russian Revolution tradition described in Amor Tolles’ wildly successful book, A Gentleman in Moscow, that the Gauntt family adopted to honor the 10th anniversary of Jimmy’s passing last August, glasses of Chateauneuf-du-Pape were poured and raised to all the Jimmies.
[Here are links to HILARY’S TOAST as well as her beautiful exchange of letters with the author, Amor Tolles THE MOSCOW LETTERS]
This event is only possible because of the generous donors to the Jimmy.
We give special thanks and gratitude to the R.C. Baker Foundation, John Dale, Evan Nicholas and the Gauntt family.
Hilary and Casey Gauntt with the 2019 Jimmies[Photo by: Steve Cohn www.stevecohnphotography.com © 2019]
With the Jimmies L to R: Brittany Gauntt Kirby (Jimmy’s sister), Professor David Treuer, Ryan Kirby (Jimmy’s brother-in-law), Professor Melissa Daniels-Rauterkus, Casey Gauntt, Professor David Roman and Hilary GauntPhoto by: Steve Cohn www.stevecohnphotography.com © 2019
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