This year marked the beginning of the Cornerstone Writing Awards where first-year students were recognized for their strong writing skills in their Cornerstone classes. Cornerstone is a program designed as an introduction into liberal arts academic culture and intended for first-year North Park student. It is part of North Park's larger Core Curriculum.

This past April, spring semester Cornerstone professors collected and evaluated submissions for the Cornerstone Writing Awards, an event that recognized exemplary first-year student writing in four categories: "Comparison," "Analysis," "Narrative," and "Reflective." Winning writers received a $100 prize as well as the opportunity to read their work to an audience comprised of Cornerstone peers and faculty, and the winning essays can also be read here.

Follow the links below to read each essay.