Spooky Writing Contest
Eastern New Mexico University - RoswellFall 2024 Winners, Presented by the Writing Lab
Spooky Writing Contest
Fall 2024 Winners⤶ Return to Writing Lab
Congratulations!
Students
- "The Whispering Orchards of Roswell" by Destini Hernandez
- "Shadows of Black Hollow Lane" by Mariana Barron
- "From Within" by Arely Caraveo
Faculty & Staff
- "Awakening" by Rick Scifres
- "Tar of Horror" by Carmen Short
About Our Writers
Destini Hernandez
Destini Hernandez, a Roswell, New Mexico native, is a multifaceted professional with a passion for both her work and family. At 28, Destini serves as a marketing specialist and gift processor at the New Mexico Military Institute, where she applies her skills in finance, customer relations, and event management to support the Institute’s mission and foster meaningful alumni connections. Driven by a commitment to personal and professional growth, she is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration.
Destini’s personal life is as vibrant as her career. She met her husband on TikTok, a unique beginning to their love story, and together they are raising two children—a son and a daughter. She also has a stepson who lives in California, and she cherishes maintaining a close relationship with him. With her family at the heart of everything she does, Destini balances her roles as a professional, student, and mother with dedication and enthusiasm.
Mariana Barron
Mariana Barron is a talented educator working as an Ed Fellow at the Roswell Independent School District (RISD). Currently pursuing a teaching degree, she has a big heart for shaping young minds and expanding her skills in the field of education. Last year, Mariana’s love for writing stood out when she won first place in the Spooky Writing Contest with her short story, “The Old House.” In her free time, she enjoys reading and collecting books, assembling puzzles, and loves spending time with her family. Her diverse interests and dedication drive both her professional and personal activities.
Arely Caraveo
Arely Caraveo was born in Modesto, California, and grew up in various places in Mexico. She began reading books at a young age, primarily as a hobby. However, the more she read, the more inspired she became to write for fun. Since Spanish is her mother tongue, she mainly wrote in that language and enjoyed researching synonyms to enhance her vocabulary in her writing. Over time, although she still loves writing, she has dedicated herself to becoming a surgeon. For her, it doesn’t matter how many years it takes to achieve this goal; what truly excites her is the opportunity to learn more about medicine. She is passionate about learning new things that interest her and will continue to write alongside her loyal companion, her bunny.
R. L. Scifres
R. L. Scifres is an emeritus instructor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at ENMU-Roswell. Since retiring, he has written and published three books using Amazon KDP. He currently resides near Tucson, Arizona with his lovely young bride, Joanie.
Carmen Short
Carmen Short is a current employee at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell and an Alumni at Eastern New Mexico University Portales where she received her Bachelors in English with a minor in Creative Writing. She is the middle child out of five siblings. Carmen was born and raised in California and moved to Artesia, New Mexico in 2014. She enjoys spending time with family, building things, and reading a good book as a form of relaxation.