SandScript 2023 [Digital Exclusive]

Gabriel Baez
Is a Chicano writer who grew up in the California Central Valley. He is 25 years old and
working on finishing his associate degree at Pima before transferring to the University of
Arizona for Creative Writing. He will begin applying to MFA programs this fall. His poems,
short stories, and essays focus on family, cultura, memory, and dreams.
Mirtha Gabriela Duarte
Born in Tucson and raised in Nogales, Sonora, Gabriela Duarte is an aspiring writer and amateur
poet. Gabriela’s curiosity for poetry was sparked after taking a few poetry classes at Pima
Community College, which became a significant admiration and love for the genre. Gabriela’s
preferred themes are mental health and social issues, topics they are very passionate about.
Ian Jones
Is 28 years old. He takes literature classes for his artsy side at Pima Community College. When he finishes his
Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Arizona at the end of 2023, he plans on applying to the Masters
of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. He has worked as a Nurse’s Aid, a Wildland Firefighter, a Personal Trainer, and
even solely owned and managed a CrossFit gym. As far as literature goes, he loves all Russian and Japanese
classics, like Tolstoy and Kawabata. He writes in the hopes of making the world a more empathetic place.
Ian Sommer
(He/Him) is 18 and about to finish his second semester at Pima. He has developed a
fascination for taking pictures of people that tell emotional stories. He comes from a
Russian background, which provides him with a unique perspective of culture and society.
After Pima, he plans on transferring to the Eller College of Management at the University of
Arizona.
Jesus Rodriguez
Jesus Rodriguez is a PCC Student
Joseph Retsky
Is a visual arts major at Pima. He likes to do travel, wildlife, and nature Photography,
as well as drawing.
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