Schools

Twins From Bowie Recognized for Writing and Editing Skills at AACC

The Ryan brothers have more in common than just physical appearance, and both received writing awards as they prepare to leave for college.

Twin brothers Chris and Tom Ryan are used to people pointing out their obvious physical similarities. But the two Anne Arundel Community College students from Bowie were recently recognized for other similarities as well.

Both men were honored with literary awards at a recent open microphone coffeehouse and release party for “Amaranth,” the AACC student journal for the creative arts.

Chris Ryan won the $250 Marjorie Flack Creative Writing Award for his short story, “Mystery Peanut Butter,” which appears in the current edition of “Amaranth.” (Flack was an award-winning children’s author.)

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Chris took his first creative writing class at AACC only after his brother asked him to help with the Amaranth journal in the fall of 2010.

Flack’s grandson, Tim Barnum, and his wife, Darlene, sponsor the annual AACC creative writing contest that accepts entries in two categories: “Best Short Story” or “Best Children’s Book Writing.” Ryan’s story was selected for the award by AACC faculty.

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Tom Ryan also received a $250 award, receiving the Amaranth Editor’s Award for his hard work on the publication despite not receiving any kind of payment for his many hours of service.     

The brothers Ryan, who recently completed the requirements for their associate degrees and are members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, began attending AACC when they were just 16. Both plan to transfer to four-year colleges this fall.

“Chris and I are both very proud of ‘Amaranth’ and the work that it contains,” said Tom Ryan, who was first published in the journal in 2009.


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