Congratulations to the Winners of the Summer Story Contest!

1st Place - Kelli Nistler - "Untitled"

I used to believe that children were simply an annoyance that must be tolerated; an ever-present torture device that one simply had no choice but to endure. While cashiering at Target in years past, I'd grit my teeth in agony as the smelly little whiners shuffled through my lane, all the while fantasizing about packing them into boxes and shipping them to a far-off land. In ninth grade, I tried to convince my parents that it was a good idea for me to get a hysterectomy. That way, I couldn't give birth to anything, not even accidentally. I beg of you: put down the phone. There is no need to report me to Child Welfare officers. Because, you see, all of those thoughts swam through my head before this past summer happened.

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2nd Place - Heidi Knutson - "A Birthday to Remember"

It was the day my friends and family said I would remember for years to come—my 21st birthday! Not only was it my 21st birthday, but it was also my GOLDEN 21st birthday! It was sure to be an unforgettable day. Little did I know what a day it would be.

I awoke to bright sunshine gleaming through my bedroom window. A light, summery breeze drifted through my room, making my dangling chimes cling so softly. It was my birthday! A very beautiful morning, indeed! I had already planned a day and night full of activities. I planned to lounge in leisure at the lake throughout the afternoon with my parents. At night, my boyfriend, Mike, planned to take me out for supper. I twisted his arm enough to take me to my favorite restaurant in Glenwood-Lakeside Ballroom.

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3rd Place - Ali Garklaus- "What I Did This Summer"

This past summer I traveled to Athens and Ikaria with the Aging In Greece Service Learning group. Even though the time I spent in Greece was short, I had the time of my life. We began our trip in Athens, where we stayed for four days. Our hotel was located a few blocks from the Parthenon, which looked amazing at night when it was lit up by all of the lights. Our group went to a traditional Greek restaurant the second night we stayed in Athens, and we dined on the rooftop of a restaurant under the stars and listened to live bouzouki music. We tried our hand at bartering with the street vendors, walking away with very inexpensive "Gucci" glasses, and a variety of jerseys for the upcoming soccer tournament that was being played in Athens. The next day our tour group did a walking tour of Greece, where we got to climb to the top of the Parthenon and visited gorgeous nearby neighborhoods.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!