166 - ketab farsi

166
16
Winners Of David And Dina
Ramzi Memorial Fund And
Shofar Magazine Writing Contest
By: Nazanin Ramzi Shamtobi
My late father, Davoud (David)
Ramzi, was a poet and writer
who dedicated much of his life
to the pursuit of knowledge and
growth through literature.
It is in my parents’ memory
that “The David and Dina Ramzi
Writing Contest” was established,
to acknowledge and support the
innate talent and passion of those
who celebrate life through the
written word.
Davoud Ramzi was the
author of six books, three of which
were published in Los Angeles. The
story goes that when my parents
first met, my mother was so moved
by my father’s passion for poetry
that she published his first book of
poems called “Jedal” in 1964. This
love affair with words and poems
continued for both of them for the
rest of their lives.
As Iranian Jews, we have
the unique privilege of being the
recipients and treasure-keepers of
our rich Jewish stories and books
of philosophy and life as well as the
incomparable writings of classical
Persian poets like Ferdowsi, Hafez
and Rumi and countless modern
Iranian writers and poets who
continue to express the wonder
and angst of their era through the
written word. It is my sincere desire
that through contests like this, the
young and creative members of our
community will be encouraged to
express themselves through writing
I am delighted to present
this year’s contest winners, Shahram
Barkhordar and Dalit Yadegaran.
When I met Dalit, she told me that
winning this contest has prompted
her to rethink what she wants to
study in the future. She said that
now more than even before she
realizes how much she loves to
write and is considering majoring in
English literature at UCLA.
What I wish for Dalit and
Shahram, as well as all the other
wonderful writers who submitted
their poems and stories for this
contest, is that they always find
and hold a place for writing in their
lives.
I am grateful to my dear
friend, Mojgan Rahbar, and the
Iranian-American Jewish Federation
for giving me the opportunity to use
Shofar as a forum to display the
works of our talented winners.
Judging Panel:
***Nazanin Ramzi Shamtobi
received her B.A. from UCLA in
Political Science with an emphasis
on International Relations of the
Middle East. She continued with
the Masters program at UCLA
in Persian Studies in the Near
Eastern Languages and Cultures
Department where she was an
assistant professor.
She is currently a master’s candidate
for Spiritual and Depth Psychology
at Antioch University.
***Shirin Ramzi
received her B.A. in English
Literature at UCLA. She then
received her Master’s degree
in Education from Pepperdine
University. Ms. Ramzi has been
a dedicated teacher of English
Language and Literature at Palisades
High School for over a decade.
Dalit Yadegaran
recently graduated from Santa
Monica High School and has been
accepted to UCLA for the class of
2014. Her winning essay is:
“What influences you to wake
up each morning?”
How should I respond to the
above question when asked by
my interviewer to a prestigious
Ivy League university?
No, I can’t say my alarm clock. Too
simple.
My responsibility and determination
to strive for the top of my class at
school? Too cliché.
My parents who nudge me around at
6:50 every morning? Too common.