For students who like to write, finding people who share that interest can be difficult. A new creative writing club at William Jewell College is trying to change that.

Three first-year students, Laura Zimmerman, Tommy Burk, and Slade Birk, started the Creative Writing Club this semester. What started as an idea in class quickly turned into an actual organization. The club meets every Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. in Jewell Hall 303. Meetings alternate between writing and sharing. Members are given a one-word prompt every other week and use it as a starting point for their own work. The prompts are intentionally open-ended, allowing everyone to take them in a different direction.

The club is not limited to one type of writing. Members can bring short stories, poetry or other creative work. The group also plans to try different poetry activities and use some meetings simply to talk about their writing.

On sharing days, members read their work to the group and receive feedback. Sometimes that means pointing out a grammar issue, but it could also mean pointing out what is working and what could make a piece stronger.

The club’s leaders said having a reason to write is part of what makes the group useful. “It’s hard to maintain it if you don’t have a deadline,” Laura said. “It’s helpful to share it.”

For the students involved, however, the club is about more than getting better at writing. They also see it as a way to meet people who are interested in the same things.

“I think it’s hard to find communities for art, and especially writing, because it’s not really seen as an art form in a lot of spaces,” Tommy Burk said. “I feel like giving you space for that is nice.”

The club is also working with The Hilltop Monitor to give members an opportunity to publish their work. The newspaper plans to create a new section on its website for creative writing, with the club potentially submitting one piece each month.

For now, the club is still figuring out what it will become. With only five members, there is plenty of room for new writers to join and help shape it. “It’s just super low pressure.”

And for anyone who has been meaning to write but never quite gets around to it, that might be reason enough to show up.

This week, the William Jewell Opera and Jewell Theatre Company are putting on a production of Orpheus in the Underworld. While you probably know the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice from more modern shows like Hadestown, this 1858 comedic opera by Jacques Offenbach spins Greek Mythology into an utter farce. The story loosely follows Orpheus and Eurydice, a young couple in a loveless marriage. Both have found other lovers. Eurydice has unknowingly fallen for Pluto, God of the Underworld. Pluto takes Eurydice away, and Orpheus is overjoyed until Public Opinion finds out what has occurred. Public Opinion demands that he travel to Olympus to ask the King of Gods, Jupiter, for Eurydice’s return from the underworld; if he does not, Orpheus will lose his career. Meanwhile, Eurydice has been trapped in the underworld, and her fate balances in the hands of the many gods who see her as a distraction from their otherwise boring lives.

The cast consists of 14 students, who study a variety of majors but all share a common interest in the performing arts. The production has been led by Music and Stage Director Dr. Laura Lowry, Collaborative Pianist and Assistant Music Director Leslie Bunch, and Technical Designer Nathan Wyman. The student leadership of this production stands out, as they went above and beyond to support their colleagues and present a quality show. The instrumental section is completed by Violinist Bryson Gates. Choreography was done by Lauren Taylor, Technical Direction by Lianna Morelli, Costumes, Hair, and Makeup were designed by Kai Robbins, Poster and Program Design by E.E. Naber and Bryson Gates. The Tech Crew includes Milo Johnson, Zachary Muñoz and Molly Touzinsky.

I was able to speak with Choreographer Lauren Taylor and Costume Designer Kai Robbins about their involvement and experience with putting together the opera. Lauren Taylor is a Senior majoring in Education and Psychology. Lauren choreographed several shows while in high school, but this is her first time choreographing a show in college. When asked about her favorite part of the production, Lauren said it was “making up choreography, which I’m like, ‘I don’t know if this is gonna work’. And then the first time that everyone did it together and it finally worked out I was like, ‘woah, it actually looks so good’.”

Kai Robbins is a first-year majoring in Political Science. Kai has previously worked on costumes, hair, wigs and makeup both in high school and earlier this fall for the Jewell Theater Company’s Production of Two Rooms. Kai said that their favorite part of this production was “Getting to piece it all together in these last couple of days. The lights coming together, and everyone’s vocals coming together. I’m finally getting costumes ready and everything, and watching everyone try them all on. Just like, every puzzle piece finally fitting together.”

There are only three chances to see this incredible opera. The show starts at 7pm on Thursday, April 23^rd and Saturday, 25^th, as well as 3pm on Sunday the 26^th. The show will be on campus in Peters Theater. There are no tickets for this show, rather a suggested donation of $10 at the door. We hope to see you there!

Connor Hull is a senior Accounting major on the Jewell track and field team. The Hilltop Monitor interviewed Hull as part of a series featuring senior athletes at Jewell.

THM: What was going through your head when you recently broke the 200 meter school record at CMU this past weekend?

So I was in line 8 and everyone in the heat was faster than me. So all I was thinking about was that I had to go because I was terrified that they were going to catch me on the curve and that would have been embarrassing because it was a short curve. But no, I just gave him my all. The track was giving out, so I felt a little divot in it, but you know, it was a fun race. 20.3 easy, so… happy to PR.

THM: What’s your main (favorite) event in track?

Sadly, my main event is the 400. I love it. I hate it. It’s the best and the worst at the same time. It’s always super tiring. It was always nerve-wracking, but it’s always good to run fast in it. I don’t know. I respect it the most.

THM: When you broke the 200m school record, how did it feel to run that PR? Is that something you had been working toward for a long time, or did it come naturally with your training?

It kind of came along. You know, I had a plateau, you know, for the past 2 years. That was always annoying. But, no, the new training, I guess, has been helping a lot. I mean, I PR half a second since last year in the 200. I mean, I was excited that I PR’d. I’m a little disappointed, you know, because I still lost by quite a bit. in the race. But, you know, also have, you know, next week to do better. So, you know, I’m so happy that I broke the record because I didn’t even know what the time was, so… It’s kind of neat when coach told me.

THM: During indoor season, you also ran a new PR in the 400 and broke the school record. What were your thoughts on that race?

That one was… Oh, where was that at? I’m trying to like picture it. Oh, it was Northwest. At that, what was it, a Thursday meeting? Yeah, and I was so pissed off that we had to go to a meet on Thursday. And I was like, you know, we’re just gonna run. not going to be good or anything. And I mean, I just got out there and started running and I PRd. I didn’t really have any hopes to run fast at all. I don’t know. I was more surprised that I ran that fast, so many things. I don’t know. I was just like, we had to go, so it’s just…I was just kind of disappointed. But, you know, I was happy to PR.

THM: After being named GLVC Freshman Athlete of the Year during indoor season, it seems like you’re having a strong comeback now—what changes have you made in your training, and what do you think has contributed to your recent record-breaking performances?

Part of it, you know, is like the training changes up, so I think I’m adapting to like how the training’s going. But the other part is I’m a senior. This is, like, the last time I’m gonna be competing in college, so if I don’t do good in that, it’s gonna stay like that forever. That’s one of those times, like, I don’t want to end off on a bad time or anything. I want it to look good. I want to leave. I don’t look like I, you know, I just, like, ran 48s all year, and, like, didn’t get better throughout my 4 years of college. So it’s kind of motivation to not be worse than my freshman year yourself.

THM: What keeps you motivated to keep pushing your limits on the track?

Honestly, to not let the coaches down. It’s always, you know, like, you get into, like, almost like a lull with some coaches, like Coach Walker, you know, you, like, kind of, like, stop pushing us as hard and everything. So like when you get a new coach, you know, you don’t want to disappoint them and everything. Yeah. So there’s always that in the back of your head. Like, you don’t want to, you know, do bad every week when they have high hopes for you, but, I mean, the other one, the motivation is just, you know, I just want to be better. I don’t want to lose to [first-years] anymore. We’ve got a month left of school and everything, and I just want to give it my all. You know, I’m not gonna be doing it as hard again for a while, so… It’s my last chance.

THM: What is one piece of advice you would give to other athletes at Jewell or elsewhere, and what advice would you give to your younger freshman self?

Just stay focused. It’s difficult to balance school and sports at the same time, but I don’t know. If you just love the sport that you do, it’s pretty easy. Just, you know, you just have to do everything that you’re supposed to, you know, go to practice on time, lift, do everything you’re supposed to do. Recover, get 8 hours of sleep, and all that. You know, because you if don’t get enough sleep, you know, you kind of look like you got bed head, and you do really bad. But yeah, uh, I don’t know. I guess the biggest thing is, uh, it’s not my coach is, uh, to stay hydrated and get sleep. Take care of your body.

THM: You heard it here. Connor Hull.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

This interview was edited for brevity and flow.

This article originally appeared in a print edition of the Monitor published 27 February 2026.

Toryn Podschwit (#1) is a senior Communications major who plays attack for the Jewell women’s lacrosse squad. The Hilltop Monitor interviewed Podschwit as part of a series featuring senior athletes at Jewell.

THM: What got you into lacrosse?

Podschwit: I played volleyball for my whole life, and was out of that phase [by] my sophomore year of high school. And so I had one of my older friends say, “Well, you should join the lacrosse club!” I just randomly joined, and it became my favorite thing ever, very fast.

What brought you to WJC?

I was with Kallie Muck [former head lacrosse coach]. I was the first ever recruit for Jewell lacrosse and the first commit, and was the first ever to score a goal in Jewell lacrosse history. I followed [Muck] to St. Mary’s, and then she got the job here and created the program. So I ended up coming here my freshman year.

Tell me more about your team culture.

Our culture is really, really amazing. It’s like a family. And even if we do bicker, it’s definitely sister vibes. There’s no hard feelings ever. The culture we’ve developed is very unique and one of a kind!

As one of the first on, how has it been bringing up that team culture?

In the beginning, we were really nervous; it was very easy to have the twelve girls you knew and no outsider stuff. When that first class [of recruits] came in, we were really nervous to see the new blood, but they turned out to be my best friends ever. Each person we’ve added has brought their own uniqueness to the culture, and it’s been amazing. Now it’s just excitement to see what everyone can add.

How do you prepare for a game?

I wake up, I have to go get my coffee and my breakfast burrito or an energy drink… (And your go-to coffee?) Hammerhand, so either an iced caramel macchiato or a vanilla iced latte—lover Hammerhand, and a breakfast burrito from La Puerta [?] on the corner, with extra hot sauce. Then I come to the training room, get my shins wrapped & knees done, hit some wall ball, do some shots on the field. [The team goes] to the locker room and we dance and we sing and we get all hyped up in there. It’s awesome.

Who on your team has it been good to see grow?

Faith Bowles (#2), she’s my little baby. She came in and I was nervous because we both wanted to be each other’s friend, but we slowly became best friends; we’re very similar. She used to be shy, and now she knows what she wants, she’s outspoken and she’s very confident in herself. So it’s very fun to see her on and off the field as my best friend.

What’s next after Jewell?

My plans after Jewell are to begin my career as a clinical navigator for a rehabilitation center. 

What else do you want the Monitor to know?

I would like the Hilltop to know that WJ LAX does not deserve the Yik Yak hate, and that we’re actually fun and awesome. I love being at Jewell and have been for four years. It’s a great spot because it’s small, but I can also be myself and have people who love me for me.

Toryn, thanks for your time.
This interview underwent minor edits for brevity and flow. If you know a student athlete the Monitor should interview, talk to us at hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/contact-us.