2008 Woodie Awards
Questioning Beliefs, Sherman Alexie Challenges Colgate Students To Look At The World From The Other Side
Sarah Fitzgerald
Issue date: 11/5/04 Section: News
The remarkable writer, poet and screenwriter Sherman Alexie graced Colgate's campus on Wednesday night. He delivered a bitingly humorous speech in the Hall of Presidents to a receptive crowd, offering commentary on an array of American social issues. A myriad of Colgate groups sponsored the lecture, including the Native American Studies Department, Film & Media Studies, ALST, Sophomore Year Experience, Theater, Center for Leadership and Student Involvement (CLSI) and Department of Environmental Studies (ENST).
Alexie is considered one of the most prolific writers in contemporary America.
"[He is also] a strong voice for contemporary Native America," Professor of English and Women's Studies Sarah Wider said.
A Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, Alexie grew up in Wellpinit, Washington on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He graduated from high school and attended Gonzaga University on a scholarship, but he eventually transferred to Washington State University after two years.
There, Alexie discovered his interest and talent for writing and poetry. Upon graduation, he received the Washington State Arts Commission Poetry Fellowship in 1991 and the National Endowment of the Arts Poetry Fellowship in 1992.
Alexie has been writing ever since that time - poetry, short stories, essays and screenplays, including a screen adaptation of his short story - "This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" from his collection of short stories entitled The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. The film, 1998's Smoke Signals, was a success both at the Sundance Film Festival and under Miramax's distribution.
Alexie has received abundant critical acclaim and has won numerous literary and film awards, including a PEN/Hemingway Award for Best First Book of Fiction for The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and a Christopher Award for Smoke Signals.
Alexie has also excelled within the spoken word poetry circuit. He competed and won the World Heavyweight Poetry Bout in 1998. He won the Bout for four consecutive years. His most recent collection of short stories is entitled Ten Little Indians, marking his sixteenth book thus far in his career.
Alexie is considered one of the most prolific writers in contemporary America.
"[He is also] a strong voice for contemporary Native America," Professor of English and Women's Studies Sarah Wider said.
A Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, Alexie grew up in Wellpinit, Washington on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He graduated from high school and attended Gonzaga University on a scholarship, but he eventually transferred to Washington State University after two years.
There, Alexie discovered his interest and talent for writing and poetry. Upon graduation, he received the Washington State Arts Commission Poetry Fellowship in 1991 and the National Endowment of the Arts Poetry Fellowship in 1992.
Alexie has been writing ever since that time - poetry, short stories, essays and screenplays, including a screen adaptation of his short story - "This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" from his collection of short stories entitled The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. The film, 1998's Smoke Signals, was a success both at the Sundance Film Festival and under Miramax's distribution.
Alexie has received abundant critical acclaim and has won numerous literary and film awards, including a PEN/Hemingway Award for Best First Book of Fiction for The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and a Christopher Award for Smoke Signals.
Alexie has also excelled within the spoken word poetry circuit. He competed and won the World Heavyweight Poetry Bout in 1998. He won the Bout for four consecutive years. His most recent collection of short stories is entitled Ten Little Indians, marking his sixteenth book thus far in his career.