Sisters Jazmine and Ciara Reyes win Valpo English awards

VALPARAISO, IN (09/02/2010)(readMedia)-- The Valparaiso University Department of English recently awarded Jazmine Reyes the 2010 Margot Ann Uehling Prize for Writing for her essay, "Debunking the Myths of Masculinity: George Eliot's Critique of Victorian Masculinities via Edward Casaubon of Middlemarch."

Jazmine is a sophomore American studies major. An honorable mention was awarded to her sister, Ciara, for her essay "Redeeming the Underground Man: Writing as a Vehicle of Redemption in Dostoyevsky's Notes from Underground." Ciara is a biology and humanities double major at Valpo.

The Margot Ann Uehling Prize, awarded to the best non-fiction prose essay written last year by a Valpo undergraduate student not graduating before December 2010, honors the memory and achievements of teacher, scholar and writer Margot Uehling, sister of Professor Edward Uehling, chair of the department of English.

The sisters are both members of Christ College, the University's honor college, and the daughters of Bernard and Becky Reyes of Schererville, Ind. Jazmine and Ciara make up the singing duo "Rosebud."

About Valparaiso University

Valparaiso University is a comprehensive university that enrolls more than 4,000 students on its campus southeast of downtown Chicago. A community of purpose-driven, empowered, service-minded and ethical individuals who embrace the pursuit of truth with freedom, humility and compassion, Valpo has been identified as one of the top master's-level institutions in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report magazine for the past 22 years.

More than 110 undergraduate academic programs are offered through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering and Nursing. Valpo also has a distinguished honors college-Christ College, a School of Law and more than 40 degree and certificate programs in its Graduate School and Continuing Education Division. Valpo has been recognized for its commitment to outstanding teaching, preparing thoughtful leaders with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness, and dedication to serving others.