Dunster Sophomore Receives Writing Prize

Although he can't remember the grade he got on it, one Dunster House sophomore will never forget one of the essays he wrote for Expository Writing.

One year after Constantine Costes '88 turned in his essay on "Computers and Chaos," it has won him over $50 in the form of the F. Skiddy Von State Award.

Established nine years ago in honor of the retired dean of freshman, the award is presented annually in recognition of an outstanding freshman Expos essay written in the previous academic year.

A committee of six Expos teachers chose "On Computers and Chaos" over 51 other essays submitted, according to Director of Expository Writing Richard C. Marius.

Inspired by his math section leader and a Scientific American article, Costes wrote the essay on the role of computers in number crunching, especially when trying to figure out specific patterns, he said.

Since writing the winning essay, Costes, who is concentrating in math, has written several computer programs which implement the ideas the essay presented.

In addition to a monetary prize, Costes will receive a book and along with his Expository writing teacher, John De Cuevas, has been invited to lunch with Von Stade and Marius.