WIU-QC English Professor Dr. Malachuk and Senior Christina Sanders-Ring enjoy a slice of cake at the Coffeehouse Bash and Edge Launch.

The Edge Launch and IDEAS Coffeehouse Bash proved to be a big success Friday evening, October 24, at Western Illinois University – Quad Cities.

The Edge staff made an official debut of the newest student run publication and first online newspaper to their student body, faculty and administration.

IDEAS upheld the reputation of hosting a creative writing, short story contest in which the student body was encouraged to participate. The winners were announced at the Bash and were given several prizes including Prenzie season tickets, The Book Rack gift cards, WIU paraphernalia and many more.

The first place winner of the Fiction Short Story was contest was Allyson Borkgren with “The Working Dead.” Coming in second was Chloanne Simmering with her story, “Rebecca’s Problem,” and the third place winner was Julia McMeekan with “Rusty’s Grandmother.”

Graduate Student Allyson Borkgren shares her first place piece to a captive audience.

The winner of the Non-Fiction Short Story contest was Christina Sanders-Ring with her story “The Last Woman.”

Senior Christina Sanders-Ring shares her Non-Fiction prose.

Congratulations to all writers! All of the winning stories and the runners up are published on The Edge under Literary Journal.

A former professor at WIU-QC, John Schulze, attended the Bash and provided a reading of his newly published book, Fertile Ground.

John Schulze, a professor at WIU, reads excerpts from his newly published novel Fertile Ground.

Under the pen-name of Penn Stewart, Dr. Schulze shared his enthusiasm for reading and writing, engaged with the crowd and set up a table for attendees to purchase signed copies of his novel.

A book signing followed the reading.

The highlight of the night was a surprise to Dr. Everett Hamner and Dr. Dan Malachuk, who were honored by their students for their superb support and mentor-ship. The students presented each professor with a hand-made gift representing their respective role in the lives of the student body. A cake, with a picture of the two professors, was cut to celebrate the evening.

A cake was made to celebrate the support from two distinct English faculty; Dr. Hamner and Dr. Malachuk.

Audrey Adamson, Assistant Director of Student Services, was also honored as a vital individual in the lives of students and more specifically as the support and adviser for WIU-QC IDEAS student group. Adamson was given a small gift of appreciation.

As the coffeehouse playlist played its last tune, the guests murmured their goodbyes and conveyed a job well done for The Edge Launch and annual CoffeeHouse Bash.

Thank you to the Prenzie Players, Comedy Sportz, Terror at Skellington Manor, Milltown Coffee, THEO’S JAVA CLUB, Dead Poet’s Espresso Ltd., and The Book Rack, Quad Cities for the donations.