On Monday evening May 9, the USC English Department hosted the 13th annual James Gauntt Memorial Award dinner and bestowed “the Jimmy” to seven more outstanding graduating seniors majoring in English, Creative Writing or Narrative Studies. After two years of suspending the dinner because of the pandemic, this year the celebration was held on campus at the Moreton Fig restaurant in the Epstein Family Alumni Center. Over 20 faculty members were on hand to introduce and celebrate the award recipients at the dinner hosted by Professor David Roman and award committee co-chair, Professor Danzy Senna. Also attending were Jimmy’s parents, Hilary and Casey, his sister Brittany Kirby and his nephew, Hunter. It was a memorable and heart-warming evening. Eighty “Jimmies” have been awarded since 2010. Here are the 2022 Jimmy recipients. Congratulations!
Joseph Debaerien
Jordan Bucknor
Faith Florez
Dylan Goodale
Eli Gruen
Lauryn Jones
Ben Parkhill
