Nov 30, 2015
Vancouver, BC – Congratulations to Langara English alumna Karoline Pasciano, who recently won the College Division of the 2015 Jane Austen Society of North America essay competition. The annual contest is open to students from across the world and is divided by high school, college/university, and graduate school levels of study. This year, entrants were challenged to examine the different ways Austen’s characters engage with their culture, views, mores, or living conditions.
Karoline’s essay “Beyond Earthly Appetites: Food, Consumption, and the Construction of Mansfield Park” explored Austen’s special attention to food—both physical and metaphorical—as a means of achieving realism, depicting internal struggles and conveying complex themes such as morality and cultural values. Karoline wrote the essay with the support of her mentor and Langara English instructor, Tanya Lewis.
“Tanya’s support in this project was absolutely invaluable,” Karoline shares. “Through our many feedback sessions and critical discussions, I have learned a great deal about the significance of food in the works of Jane Austen and how to construct effective written arguments. I’m incredibly grateful for having her as a mentor, as well as a role model, and deeply admire her dedication to teaching.”
Karoline’s essay was selected over numerous submissions from English students across the globe from institutions including Harvard College, Burman University, Northwestern University, Dalhousie University, and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin.
Karoline credits her time with instructors at Langara for uncovering her passion for literature:
“I am grateful for the feedback I received and [for the] engaging in-class discussions during my time at Langara, for they not only encouraged me to think about ideas critically, but also to broaden my focus and understanding of such concepts.”
“The English program kindled my passion for literature, helped me hone my analytical skills, and provided me with valuable tools, which will most definitely aid me in my future ambitions. As I pursue an English Honours degree at UBC, I am confident that, through Langara’s exceptional level of instruction, I have acquired all the fundamental skills required for succeeding in my senior years.”
Karoline receives a $1000 scholarship, free registration and two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting, one year’s membership in JASNA for herself and Tanya and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.
“Karoline was an absolute delight to work with and is incredibly self-motivated,” says Langara English instructor Tanya Lewis. “Students like her are one of the reasons we like to teach.”
Tanya also has a professional interest in the use of food as a literary device. During her time at Langara, Tanya developed English 2233: Consuming Fiction: Examining the Link between Food and Story.
Having graduated from Langara in 2015 with an Associate of Arts degree, Karoline is now pursuing a Bachelor of English (Honours) at the University of British Columbia. A complete version of Karoline’s winning essay may be viewed on the Jane Austen Society of North America website.
About Langara
Located in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 21,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path.
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Geoff Smith
Communications Officer
Langara College
604.323.5014
geoffreysmith@langara.bc.ca