The Center for German Studies is pleased to present the prize winners of the 2014 Fall of the Berlin Wall prize competition. The University-wide prize competition asked students to explore the magic of the historic moment in November 1989 as well as the challenges that remain. All UVa undergraduates were invited to participate. Submissions ranged from essays and short stories to posters, photo-essays, video-work, and design projects relevant to the exploration of the moment a...nd/or of remaining walls. The prizes were announced to an excited audience at a reception in the Auditorium of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library on Thursday, November 6, 2014, at 5:00 in the presence of Jody Kielbasa, Vice Provost of the Arts and Director of the Virginia Film Festival. The first prize received a cash award of $2500 (first runner up $1500, and second runners-up $500).

Prize Winners:

First Prize: Elizabeth Ballou, “A Celebration” (Short Story)

Second Prize: Atthar Mirza, "Breaking Down the Berlin Wall" (Short Film)

Third Prize (tie): Hannah Varden, "Keepsake" (Photo Collage)

Third Prize (tie): Norashiqin Toh, “Aftermath” (Collection of Poems)

Honorable Mention:

Forth Prize: John Connolly, William Henagan, Elizabeth Morley, Elizabeth Morley, “To Love a Wall: A Study in Strength and Fragmentation at the University of Virginia” (photo installation with audio and text)

Fifth Prize (tie): Trisha Hongcharti, "Berlin Wall" (spoken word)

Fifth Prize (tie): Sage Tanguay, “And as Ulbricht says…” (video poem)

Prize Judges in alphabetical order:
Manuela Achilles (Associate Director, Center for German Studies)
Peter Debaere (Associate Professor, Darden School of Business Administration)
Michael Puri (Associate Professor, Music)
Christopher Tilghman (Professor of English, Director of Creative Writing)
William Wylie (Professor of Art, Associate Chair of Studio Art)

The Fall of the wall prize contest was inspired by the Hefner family’s generous offer to exhibit four panels of the historic Berlin Wall, featuring “Kings of Freedom” graffiti art by West German artist Dennis Kaun, on UVa Grounds close to Alderman Library. The installation recalls the fall of the Wall as a historic moment entirely in tune with Thomas Jefferson’s principles of unalienable rights – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.