Pictured LTR: Aubrey Baker and Isabel Lesher
MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s Write Place is proud to announce the first annual Loie Bunse Prize for Nature Writing winners, which recognizes exceptional student writing that reflects a deep engagement with the natural world.
First prize was awarded to Aubrey Baker for their lyrical essay, Medusae, with an award of $300. Second prize went to Isabel Lesher for her imaginative short story, The Doe’s Body, with an award of $200.
Aubrey Baker, a senior majoring in English, described Medusae as a creative nonfiction piece rooted in personal loss and environmental imagery. “My essay was inspired by the dreamy atmospheres of aquariums, the death of a good friend, and the concept of adaptation that is ever present in nature and society. It was inspired by its subject matter.”
Baker is currently working on a speculative fiction project involving a clandestine eco-terrorist cell of technological savants unraveling the mystery of a serial killer hundreds of years in the future in Anchorage, Alaska.
Second-prize winner Isabel Lesher, a junior majoring in Theater, shared her inspiration behind The Doe’s Body. “Ever since I was little, I have loved the concept of miniature humans. Even in high school, I wrote a story about a tiny family that lived in a teacup. I wanted to use these little creatures to explore how nature uses us, how our organic matter becomes part of something eternal. All bodies are immortal.”
Lesher frequently writes about themes of womanhood and motherhood, exploring the multitude of roles and responsibilities women carry.
The Loie Bunse Prize for Nature Writing is made possible through the generous support of Meta and Garth Bunse. Garth Bunse was also a final judge who shared praise for both pieces.
“It was a pleasure to read all the entries for the first annual Loie Bunse Nature Prize and to choose two standout pieces,” shared Bunse. “Medusae was a well-crafted essay, richly lyrical even with its biological specificity. Meanwhile, The Doe’s Body was both a delightful and mournful adventure with surprises at each turn.”
Learn more about the Loie Bunse Prize for Nature Writing.
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About Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.
