Improve your fiction
A winner of the Oregon Book Award will host a workshop on developing striking characters for your fiction this Saturday, March 10 in PSU’s Smith Memorial Center. Diana Abu-Jabar won the Oregon Book Award in 1993 for her first novel, “Arabian Jazz,” that also became a finalist for the Pen/Hemmingway Award.
The workshop will focus on the process of making characters realistic and compelling. Registration is $75 for the session that will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in SMC 229. Call (503) 725-3579 for more information.
Group supports victimized employees
It’s bad enough to have to work for a living, but if someone at work causes feelings of intimidation, isolation, fear or victimization you are not alone in your frustration. On Monday March 12 at 5 p.m. come to the Koinonia House (Campus Ministry) at 633 S.W. Montgomery for a support group formed by PSU employees for the staff, faculty and students of Portland State. For more information call (503) 725-8276 or e-mail annolive@yahoo.com.
Run for charity
Did the recent balmy weather get you inspired to get back in shape? If you need more inspiration look no further than the “Race for the Roses.” You’ll benefit the Albertina Kerr Center and The Boys and Girls Aid Society of Oregon that serve youth and families in crisis.
A half-marathon, a 5K run/walk and a half mile Kids’ Dash are featured in the annual fund-raiser, and registration is cheaper if received before April 2. You can register online at www.race4theroses.org or call (503) 239-8101. The first 1,000 finishers of the half-marathon will receive a rose at the finish line.
Kids create science
On Monday, March 12 over 500 students from Oregon and southwestern Washington will present research and science projects at the Intel Northwest Science Expo.
The all day event gives students in fourth through 12th grades the chance to show hands on, inquiry-based research and experimentation projects. The event opens to the public at 4 p.m. at Peter Stott Center, 930 S.W. Hall. The awards ceremony begins at 6:30 P.M.
For more information call Bill Becker at (503) 725-4266 or Jeanie-Marie Price at (503) 725-3773. The top two individual winners and the top team project will compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, Calif. in May, where over $2 million in awards and scholarships will be awarded.
Deadlines approach
As if you didn’t have enough deadlines in your life, March 23 is the deadline for submission to the English Dept. for an entire laundry list of annual awards. If you write anything there is an award for which you are eligible: regular course assignments, poetry, undergraduate fiction, graduate fiction, criticism and writing by a freshman. There’s even a prize for that play you’ve written.
All submissions must be accompanied by an “Awards Cover Sheet” that is available in the English Dept.’s office in Neuberger Hall. The awards give recognition for outstanding work and bestow a modest cash prize.