Behold Naomi Day, recipient of the Octavia Butler Scholarship for Clarion West’s 2020/2021 class, clad in glory, and a celebratory silver owl pendant and holding the mic for Erik Owomoyela, recipient of the Octavia Butler Scholarship for Clarion West’s 2010 class. And why is Naomi holding the mic for Erik? Because he’s about to present an owl pendant to the Octavia Butler Scholarship recipient for Clarion West’s 2022 class, the formidable Wen-Yi Lee. Don’t believe us? We have proof:
Meanwhile, back east in San Diego, Clarion 2022 Butler Scholarship winner Shingai Kagunda is also very, very happy to receive her silver owl pendant and shows it off against a matching sky-and-sea background.
This is the 15th year that Laurie T. Edison has created beautiful reproductions of the owl pendant she designed for Octavia Butler, then donated them as presentations for winners of the Octavia Butler Scholarships. In the photograph below you can see some of the stunning detail of her work.
Here are moments from just a few of the joyous presentation ceremonies–and their aftermaths–made possible over the years by your donations and Laurie’s artistry:
2007 Clarion Butler Scholar Shweta Narayan ponders a life of subversion.2007 Clarion West Butler Scholar Christopher Caldwell waits with enormous patience for Nisi Shawl to fumble open the clasp of his owl pendant.To applause from instructor Eileen Gunn, 2009 Butler Scholar Rochita Loenen-Ruiz receives her owl with joy––followed by aplomb.Smiling 2011 Clarion Butler Scholar Dennis Ginoza poses for us with presenting instructor Kij Johnson.Clarion West’s 2010 Butler Scholar expertly bestows an owl pendant on CW’s 2011 Butler Scholar, Jeremy Sim.Wiser by nearly a decade, Clarion Butler Scholar Amin Chehelnabi still displays his owl pendant in proud and radiant glory in 2022.Clarion West’s 2014 Butler Scholar Chinelo Onwualu basks in the post-owl presentation glow with classmate Michael Matheson.
Clarion West’s 2015 and 2013 Butler Scholars, Mimi Mondal and Geetanjali Vandemark, stand side by side.CW’s 2015 Butler Scholar Mimi Mondal proudly flashes her owl pendant in the shadow of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle.Pemi Aguda, Clarion’s 2019 Butler Scholar, enjoys the rapt attention of classmates, staff, and instructor Ann VanderMeer as she receives her owl pendant.
Clarion West’s 2019 Butler Scholar Nelly Garcia-Rosas is struck with awe by the beauty of her owl pendant.In the lingering happiness following her owl pendant’s presentation, Butler Scholar Nelly Garcia-Rosas is enveloped in a warm group hug by fellow 2019 CW graduates.
