Jimmy Award Recipients

Danielle Collins

by Casey Gauntt 2020 Recipients

Hi, I’m Danielle! I’m a double major in English and Spanish, which basically means I love language in all its forms. I’m from the suburbs of Chicago, but moved around a lot as a kid, and packed up boxes full of books each time. Growing up, I always considered my love of reading to be […]

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Kanak Kapur

by Casey Gauntt 2020 Recipients

Hi, I’m Kanak! I was born in Bombay (now known as Mumbai) and my family moved to Dubai when I was about six. My parents relocated again when I was a sophomore in high school to Los Angeles, where I was lucky enough to stay for the next six years. It was a miracle to […]

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Rami Kirio

by Casey Gauntt 2020 Recipients

Growing up in Southern California has exposed Rami to different cultures that shaped the person he is today. Born to a single mother he learned to be attentive and caring. Rami loved the water and the outdoors growing up. His favorite times growing up were family movie nights and lots of popcorn. Rami did various […]

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THE 2021 JIMMY GAUNTT MEMORIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE ANNOUNCED MARKING THE 12TH YEAR OF THE JIMMY

by Casey Gauntt 2021 Recipients

Professors David Roman, Danzy Senna and Mark Irwin, co-chairs of this year’s Selections Committee, recently announced the 2021 recipients of the Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Award, aka The Jimmy.  The Jimmy is awarded to the top graduating seniors who have majored in English, Creative Writing or Narrative studies.   Six stellar seniors received The Jimmy. Unfortunately, once […]

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ALEXIS AUGUST

by Casey Gauntt 2021 Recipients

I used to struggle with viewing my writing abilities as a talent. When I was younger, I would write little poems and beginnings of stories and I would show them to my mom. Despite her encouragement, I would crumple them up and never finish them because I felt as if I was just imitating all […]

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RACHEL COPE

by Casey Gauntt 2021 Recipients

I first fell in love with writing in kindergarten when my poem “My Perfect Day” won a Beanie Baby and a trip to the zoo. The love affair continued through my time at USC, where I majored in Creative Writing and continued on to a progressive master’s degree in Literary Editing and Publishing. My time […]

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MAXIMILIAN ENGEL

by Casey Gauntt 2021 Recipients

I started at USC as a Philosophy, Politics, and Law major who didn’t know how to read. While I could follow a narrative, I was never pushed to jump into the hidden oceans of meaning that lie just beneath the surface of every text. I first took the plunge in Professor Heather James’ Thematic Option […]

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RYAN NHU

by Casey Gauntt 2021 Recipients

I didn’t enter USC as a creative writing major. Hell, during my first semester, I figured that whatever philosophical or literary exploration I’d be embarking upon during my undergraduate career would be in service of what my parents (and many, many others, I’d wager to say) would call a “practical career,” or what universities across […]

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ISAIAS UGGETTI ERAZO

by Casey Gauntt 2021 Recipients

I heard a fellow English student describe the atmosphere of the English department by remarking that nearly every professor leaves their door wide open even when they are working. The message they send is clear: They are eager to get to know students, to guide and help them. I was one who took advantage of those […]

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MICHELLE WONG

by Casey Gauntt 2021 Recipients

I’ve always loved puzzles: I can happily spend hours on crosswords, logic games, pattern problems, or riddles, because a stubborn part of me believes that for every problem, there exists an elegant solution. Looking back at my time at USC, I’ve come to think of every English class I’ve taken, every book I’ve read, and […]

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