1 minute read
Students Tour Poncan Theatre
Cowley Students Draw Inspiration From Historic Site
Story & Photo Contributed by Marlys Cervantes/ Humanities and Communication Department Chair, Cowley College
The beautiful Poncan Theatre provided inspiration for Cowley College creative writing and literary students when Christopher Radaker-James gave the group a tour of the historic facility with stories of its history, collection of vintage posters, and ghost stories. The group then viewed the poetry documentary Louder Than a Bomb, which was timely since the next night was their Writers Corner event.
Of the film, Sophomore Makayla Dick, who is active in both the Creative Writing and Mass Communication programs, said, "It was a great and inspirational experience to see how other writers are influenced by the world around them." Humanities and Communication department chair, Marlys Cervantes, says, "It's good for the students to see how recent the history of segregation actually was to now, and being in a theatre with that history, one that kept physical elements of it available for us to view, is breathtaking. Then, to celebrate with a film about achievements in poetry of youth from all walks of life just culminates the day's experience."
The afternoon began with lunch hosted at Cervantes' home in Ponca City and ended with the group of students inspired to continue to think and write.
"It was a great and inspirational experience to see how other writers are influenced by the world around them."
Pictured left to right: Sam Creek, Garrick Johnson, Karen Rodriguez Reyes, Bryce Runyan, Seth Valentine, Professor Ryan Doom, Poncan Director Christopher Radaker-James, Professor Marlys Cervantes, Tyler Thielen, Makalya Dick, Braden Snider, Julien Eaton, Macy Shreffler, and Hannah Abou-Faissal.
