Megan Montemarano, of Montvale, N.J., considers herself a quiet person, but her writing is certainly making some noise: The Fairfield University junior recently had a poem and a short story published in a national literary magazine.

The Collegiate Scholar , an online publication produced by The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), included Montemarano's poem "When the Smoke Clears" and her short story "Undying Love" in its spring issue.

"Writing has always been my avenue for contemplation and expression," said Montemarano, who is double-majoring in English and Spanish. "It provides the power to communicate those often unspoken words that can reach so many people, making a positive difference in their lives. That's my main goal - to relate to people, and leave an impact."

Montemarano has been leaving an impact with her writing for quite a while. She was involved in her high school newspaper and has been submitting her creative works to many magazines. The Collegiate Scholar is the first to publish her writing. At Fairfield, she has been published in the University literary magazine The Inkwell , and she will serve as its executive/assistant editor during the 2012-13 academic year.

The local newspaper in Wardsboro, Vermont, published a poem she wrote about that small town and she has organized many children's programs at local libraries to foster a love of reading and writing.

"Going back some more years, for my Girl Scout Gold Award, I raised enough money to self-publish a book of true and successful animal adoption stories entitled 'Happy Tails,'" she said. "Through my words, I hoped to educate people about the importance and positive outcomes of responsible animal adoption." The book is still available for purchase, with all proceeds going to an animal shelter.

Montemarano finds inspiration for her work from a variety of sources. "Undying Love" is inspired by her grandparents meeting overseas during World War II and "When the Smoke Clears" deals with the tragedy of 9/11. "For me, it's the often forgotten things that inspire my work," she said. "Writing is a joy and a way to stop for a moment, disconnect from this hectic society, and take time to focus on the simplicities of life that frequently go unnoticed. When times get rough, it is my way of putting things into perspective - to remember what truly matters in life, and then share these realizations with others."

Michael White, Ph.D., professor of English and director of Fairfield's MFA in Creative Writing, said he is impressed by Montemarano's work. "This is a remarkable achievement for any undergraduate but almost unheard of for someone so young," said White, an award-winning author himself. "However, Megan has an old soul, a necessity for a writer. In one of her prose poems, "Homecoming," she is able to capture three generations in a single image - a mother scattering her mother's ashes in the surf. She will make a wonderful writer someday."

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honors organization that recognizes and elevates high achievers. NSCS provides career and graduate school connections, leadership and service experiences, access to discounts and savings as well as $250,000 in scholarships annually. NSCS members are deeply committed to service, integrity and scholarship and, as a result, are impacting their campus and local communities every day. Learn more about NSCS at www.nscs.org or the NSCS Facebook page www.facebook.com/nscs94 .

Posted On: 07-03-2012 11:07 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 326