By Aga Afeworki Winter 2015 Kaplan Award Winner I watched the clock intensely. I was waiting, so I had nothing but time. It was 2 o’clock and the little hand was taunting me like the low muttering chatter from a group of people you don’t like in the cafeteria. I had nothing other than the … Read More

By Warren Langford Fall 2014 Kaplan Award Winner What It Was Like Behind the Counter at On 15th Video There was something about walking through the door of a video store that made most people instantly forget every movie they ever wanted to see. As employees, we were keenly aware of this brand of amnesia … Read More

By Erica Largent Fall 2014 Kaplan Award Winner Shana Brent* asked herself if going back home to make yet another attempt at a relationship with her mother would be worth it. The last time Shana had talked with her mom, had called her on the phone to try mending the brokenness that lay between them, … Read More

By Clare McGrane Fall 2014 Kaplan Award Winner https://soundcloud.com/uw-communications/outside-gender-an-intersex-memoir?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Amanda Saenz is tall and lean, with short-cut brown hair. Amanda Saenz does not identify as male or female, and prefers the neutral pronoun “they” instead of “he” or “she.”  They have a sharp dress sense, favoring clean-cut button ups and simple khaki pants. While Amanda … Read More

By Alexander Tran Fall 2014 Kaplan Award Winner Seven owners, 27 years. The small teriyaki shop in Des Moines did not have a good reputation for prolonged success, and for a moment the current owners didn’t believe that could change. James and Diane Ha were barely breaking even. They questioned if the large loan they … Read More

By Natanielle Thangamany Summer 2014 Kaplan Award Winner We had rules for eating at the dining table that made eating a chore for me. Besides the usual ‘no elbows on the dining table’, there was the dreaded ‘finish everything on your plate or you cannot leave the table’. Also known as ‘hell’ for the picky … Read More

By Baxter Byrd Summer 2014 Kaplan Award Winner I am four cars from the light, waiting to turn left onto Montlake Blvd. This intersection has become a familiar one as twice a week I make my way to the University of Washington to attend classes. At this time of day it is always busy as … Read More

By Mary Herman Summer 2014 Kaplan Award Winner I stepped out to smoke a cigarette. I hid them in my pocket and said I was going for a walk, which wasn’t a total lie. I promised myself that I’d never buy a pack, so when I found my brother’s ex-girlfriend’s secret stash in the car … Read More

By Jeanny Rhee Summer 2014 Kaplan Award Winner A tattoo of a Chinese character covers his right bicep. It symbolizes perseverance and patience which move in synchronization with the muscle underneath as he handles the wok atop a roaring flame, his brow furrowed and his forehead sweating. He’s nearly unrecognizable after serving time. The last … Read More

By Joanna Kresge Summer 2014 Kaplan Award Winner I was driving down a deserted stretch of highway in northern Texas; the panorama roof in my Ford Edge was open. The sound system playing late 90’s hits was drowning out the sound of the road and soft breathing of the woman sleeping in the passenger seat … Read More