Elisa Troncoso is inspired by the most fundamental displays of humanity in her writing. The first-year student is the winner of this year’s prestigious Thomas Wolfe Scholarship.

Serene Almehmi is one of this year’s two recipients of the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship, a four-year, full-ride merit scholarship through the English and comparative literature department that is given to an exceptional writer every year.

Alex Gast is one of this year’s two recipients of the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship, a four-year, full-ride merit scholarship for exceptional students interested in creative writing. The scholarship is given by the department of English and comparative literature.

Luisa Peñaflor, a first-year creative writing major from Simpsonville, South Carolina, is the 2021 Thomas Wolfe Scholarship recipient. We spoke with Peñaflor about her creative writing background and her first-year experience as a Thomas Wolfe Scholar.