Pauls Valley Students Featured in ECU Literary Journal

Three local writers selected for 2026 edition of 'Originals' publication

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:55pm

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Three students from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma have been selected to have their original works published in the 2026 edition of East Central University's literary journal, 'Originals'. The annual publication features creative writing from the university's student body.

Why it matters

The 'Originals' journal provides an important platform for aspiring student writers to showcase their talents and gain recognition within the local community. Being published in the journal is seen as a significant achievement that can help boost the students' confidence and open doors for future writing opportunities.

The details

The three Pauls Valley students whose works were chosen for the 2026 'Originals' journal are Samantha Rodriguez, Ethan Nguyen, and Lily Hernandez. Their pieces were selected from a competitive pool of submissions reviewed by the ECU English department faculty.

  • The 2026 edition of the 'Originals' literary journal was published in April 2026.

The players

Samantha Rodriguez

A sophomore creative writing major at East Central University.

Ethan Nguyen

A junior English literature student at East Central University.

Lily Hernandez

A senior journalism student at East Central University.

East Central University

A public university located in Ada, Oklahoma that publishes an annual literary journal called 'Originals' featuring student creative writing.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so honored to have my poem included in this year's 'Originals'. It's a dream come true to be published alongside such talented writers.”

— Samantha Rodriguez, Student Writer

“The 'Originals' journal gives students a valuable chance to share their creative voices with the community. I'm grateful ECU provides this platform for emerging writers.”

— Ethan Nguyen, Student Writer

The takeaway

The selection of three Pauls Valley students for ECU's prestigious 'Originals' journal highlights the wealth of young writing talent in the local community and the university's ongoing commitment to nurturing the creative voices of its student body.