COLUMBIA — Olivia Ferrara, a Columbia State Community College student and Columbia native, won first place in the Short Fiction category of the Sigma Kappa Delta Honor Society journal, Hedera helix. The national publication features submissions from community college students across the country, and Ferrara received a $500 award for her work.
Her story, "Ears to Hear, and Eyes to See," centers on the relationship between Emily, a caregiver, and Elizabeth, a four-year-old with cerebral palsy who cannot move independently and is nonspeaking. Through Emily's perspective, Ferrara explores how true connection transcends words—requiring only patience and the willingness to truly see another person. Ferrara drew the story directly from her work as a nanny for a child with cerebral palsy. "We should always seek a better understanding of each other," she reflected on the story's deepest message.
Dr. Jessica Evans, Columbia State's associate professor of English and SKD faculty sponsor, praised Ferrara's dedication and called her "an absolute delight and a great addition to our chapter."