About the Handley Award

The Richard Scott Handley Award began in 1994 and acknowledges the most distinguished creative writing by PCC students published in Inscape during the academic year. Award winners receive a certificate and a cash prize at the annual Spring English Division Awards ceremony. Winners are selected by the Inscape staff and Creative Writing faculty members.

2022 Handley Award & Editor's Prize Winners

Kiran Campone

Kiran Campone, 18, recently transferred from Pasadena City College and is a Junior at UC Santa Barbara, where she is majoring in English and preparing to apply to law school. Although Kiran has always enjoyed studying literature, she was hesitant to write creatively until she received encouragement from PCC's wonderful English faculty. Outside the classroom, Kiran enjoys playing piano, cuddling with her cats, and reading books of all genres. This summer, Kiran will be taking her love of English to Paris, where she will be studying comparative literature for four weeks through UC Davis' study abroad program.

Kent Sakamoto


Kent is dual majoring in Natural Sciences and Humanities at Pasadena CIty College. He plans on attaining a Bachelor of science degree in Food Science and Technology, although he did give much consideration to UC Irvine’s admission into the literary journalism program. Kent would like to thank all his professors, but especially his English teachers at PCC. Thanks given to Man Hunyh for giving me a sound writing foundation, to Aisling Cormack for introducing me to literature and ideas that helped me grow as a writer, to Emily Fernandez helping me find my voice as poet, and to Kristin Kaz who helped me prepare for life as a writer outside of an academic setting. Kent enjoys vegetable gardening , running, and occasionally finds the inspiration to write. Currently he spends most of his time trying to find the answer to an age old college question: what is calculus? He has not figured it out yet.

Yuly Mireles

Editor's Prize Winner, PCC Alumni Noah Kim 
Bio Coming Soon
Noah Kim enjoys writing about phenomena that make him stop and think. He grew up in Southern California, attended Pasadena City College, and transferred to UC Berkeley. After graduating in Spring 2022, Noah will be a law student at USC Gould. Noah enjoys watching motor racing, fashion, and reading. His favorite reads are often Modernist poems and interdisciplinary essays about law and literature. While he aims to be a litigator, Noah hopes to continue to explore poetry and share the benefits of looking at something poetically. ​

2021 Handley Award Winners

DALIDA MOSESI
​Green Summer

From the Spring 2021 Inscape Print Issue
Dalida Mosesi, 19, is currently a Sophomore at Pasadena City College. As she slowly approaches the fulfillment of her Associate’s Degree, she hopes to transfer to New York University and further her education in English Literature and Politics. Dalida has an eclectic taste of interests, ranging from resolutely following a three-day long recipe, to sewing handbags for her small-business WonderGirls USA.  Taking up Creative Writing never occurred to Dalida until she enrolled in English 5A: Introduction to Creative Writing with Professor Akilah Brown. Dalida now considers poetry as one of her sole creative outlets; it has allowed her to find a constant in her ever-turbulent life. At the end of the day, Dalida is a proud Armenian with hopes to one day be called "Congresswoman" or "Senator" where she hopes to ensure that the struggles of her country are made known on a worldwide scale. In the meantime, she holds herself to the standard that as long as she has a voice, she will use it to spread the word about issues addressing every group that has been subordinated by unequal systems of power.

KATHERINE WALL
​Save the Date

From the Spring 2021 Inscape Print Issue
Katherine Wall is a writer who wants to be a musician, a musician who wants to be a comedian, and a comedian who wants to be a writer. She grew up in south Louisiana where she studied English as an undergraduate, and now lives in Los Angeles where she enjoys attempting to make cool stuff, and even when that falls through - enjoys getting to be a part of the exciting community surrounding the attempt. Her band is called “Women Tied to Railroad Tracks,” and her comedic web series is @thespykidstwo.

ALEXIS CORINE MCGOWAN
Diversity Poem

​From the Spring 2021 Inscape Print Issue
Writer Alexis Corine McGowan is a multiracial disabled person who is a loving individual. Alexis Corine McGowan spent her whole life writing, which all started with vampires. Alexis Corine McGowan would like to leave a legacy that makes her cat-children proud and would like to inspire generations that come after hers. Created by stardust and supported by the people , Alexis Corine McGowan tries to stay humble and to enjoy life’s prosperous galaxy. 

2020 Handley Award Winners

Baylie Raddon for Upon Your Father's Denouement

Erik Elizalde for A Letter for Matthew

2019 Handley Award Winner

Cassie Wilson
Cassie Wilson is someone you would call a wanderer. Growing up she jumped around from city to city with her family having no set destination called “home”. Throughout her endeavors, the only constant she had were her books, her notebook, and her pen. She’s always loved to escape to her secret land of literature, poetry, and writing. She has a myriad of passions: cinematography, art, poetry, theatre, piano, and the occasional vocal shower performances. She is a huge advocate for LGBTQ Rights, Animal Rights, and the Self-Love/Body Positivism Movement. Cassie is currently majoring in English with the hopes to transfer to Woodbury University to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Professional Writing. Her absolute favorite writers are Roxane Gay and Kurt Vonnegut. She hopes to publish a memoir in the future about her struggles and recovery from an eating disorder. Her main goal is to spread awareness about eating disorders, mental illness and the importance of self-discovery and self-love. ​

2018 Handley Award Winners 

This year we celebrate two Pasadena City College student poets!

Alicia Wilson for Southbound with a Cigarette

Laiya Tanedo for lä•ē•yä​

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2016-2017 Handley Award Winners

Non-Fiction

​​"The Eruption"
Giselle Burciaga
​
Read it Here

Giselle is a 21-year old college student and future teacher! She says: "I'll be transferring to Cal State LA in fall 2017! I also work part time at a non profit organization called "I have a dream foundation" and think of myself as a modern woman who loves to conquer all. I'm a creative writer with a big imagination. I tend to think of others before myself.  I have a big heart and I love to give what I can. I also love naps and pugs."

Fiction 

"The Sidekick"
​Alicia de la Peña
​
​Read it Here

Alicia Linda de la Peña is currently 25 years old and a student at Pasadena City College. She began her academic career studying visual arts, specifically photography and film. She says: " I discovered creative writing when I took a class at PCC with Professor Kathy Kottaras, who helped guide me towards developing a passion for writing. Since then I have taken more creative writing classes at PCC and continue to evolve my writing capabilities and style. I enjoy writing stories that concentrate on conflict of character with light sci-fi and fantasy themes. I also enjoy writing poetry and I am beginning to learn to write screenplays. I hope to transfer to a four year university where I will study English and Philosophy."

​Poetry

"The Phone"
​Liting Chen
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​​Read it Here

Liting Says: "I grew up in China, and I loved reading and writing since I was a child. After immigrating in the United States, I took ESL classes at Pasadena City College, and I was inspired and encouraged to continue my education in college. Along with the journey to explore myself, I decided to major in English. At the very beginning, I did question myself that if I could compete with native English speakers and if I could succeed in a university. Soon enough I realized that choosing English as my major is not to compete with anyone, but to follow my innate passion for reading and writing and my childhood dream of becoming a writer and teacher. Moreover, I believe that being bilingual is a gift for me to explore both eastern and western cultures. So far I have gotten admitted by University of California, San Diego, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Santa Barbara, California State University, Long Beach, California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Fullerton and Cal Poly Pomona as an English Major Student. I plan to major in English, Chinese and East Asia Studies after I transfer. My ultimate goal is to become a bilingual professor while being a multicultural writer."