COLUMBIA — Olivia Ferrara, a Columbia native and student at Columbia State Community College, won first place in the Sigma Kappa Delta Honor Society's national short fiction competition for her story "Ears to Hear, and Eyes to See." The award includes a five-hundred-dollar prize.
Ferrara's story centers on Emily, a caregiver, and Elizabeth, a four-year-old with cerebral palsy who cannot speak or move independently. Through Emily's eyes, readers discover that meaningful connection transcends verbal communication and requires only patience and genuine effort to understand. The journal, Hedera helix, publishes work from community college students across the nation and features short stories, poetry, essays, and photography.
Ferrara drew inspiration from her work as a nanny caring for a young girl with similar circumstances. "We should always seek a better understanding of each other," she said of her story's message. Dr. Jessica Evans, Columbia State's associate professor of English and SKD faculty sponsor, praised Ferrara as "an active SKD member who has been an absolute delight and a great addition to our chapter."