SHU Pens Partnership with Notre Dame Prep Writing Club

Collaboration pairs SHU students with younger writers across the street

For emerging young writers looking to hone their craft, a more experienced mentor can provide the advice needed to elevate their writing to the next level.

Now, thanks to a partnership between Sacred Heart University's student-run literary magazine, HeartLines, and Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart, young writers will not only receive important feedback on their creative work but also have a platform on which to publish it.

The partnership was born from a friendship between SHU professor of languages & literature Marie Hulme and Notre Dame Principal Chris Cipriano MAT ’02, CAS ’07, Ed.D. ’22. When Cipriano was enrolled in SHU’s educational leadership doctoral program, Hulme, who was teaching in the program, talked to him about bringing the University and high school students together.

“I was impressed with his work as an educator and his dedication to his school,” Hulme said. “So, I approached him about having the SHU student editors of the literary magazine serve as mentors to Notre Dame students interested in creative writing. To my delight, he was as enthusiastic as I was.”

Following their meeting, Hulme was put in contact with the two Notre Dame English faculty members, Joanna Cipriano and Gregory Scheiber.

Beginning last fall, student editors from HeartLines met with members of Notre Dame's creative writing club. Since then, writers on both sides of Jefferson Street have benefited from the partnership.

Notre Dame students now have dedicated mentors who help them submit work to a new “spotlight” tab in Heartlines. Also, the SHU students have been able to impart helpful lessons and wisdom to their mentees, along with advice about submitting their stories to other publications.

Hulme is incredibly proud of how the partnership has flourished in such a short amount of time. “It is very rewarding to see this partnership take shape, as it was only an idea last summer,” she said. “It moves beyond a sharing of facilities, resources and academic opportunities to the possibility of true friendship between our students. It’s also exciting to be part of an initiative encouraging the next generation of young creative writers, some of whom may attend Sacred Heart and put their talents to a future issue of Heartlines as editors.”

As for the partnership’s impact on SHU students, it has given them insight, experience and a sense of accomplishment. Senior Kelly Parker, an English major on the secondary education track, said the writing initiative will help in her future career.

“I was involved with the literary magazine in the fall and am taking the class again this semester,” she said. “I truly enjoyed the Notre Dame creative writing club partnership that began in the fall. Talking to young writers who are passionate about English gave me a glimpse into my future as a high school English teacher, so this was an invaluable experience for me.”

Senior Ayasha Cantey, a fellow English major, shared Parker’s enthusiasm. “The partnership allowed us the opportunity to help shape young writers’ minds. It gave us the space to give these writers the guidance and encouragement that many of us needed when we were younger,” Cantey said. “All the students we met and worked with are exceptionally gifted. I hope they continue writing, and I cannot wait to see where they go in the future!”

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