At first glance, Bruno Pellegrino looks like any other college student.

But, in addition to being a USI student from Switzerland, Pellegrino is also an award-winning writer.

Pellegrino, one of 12 recipients of the Young Writer’s Award in Francophone Literature, read excerpts from his prize piece on April 14 in the Rice Library.

The young writer got to travel to Paris for a week to receive the award and partake in various writing classes with other aspiring writers.

“My mother was really proud. She can go into the book shop and see my book and show people,” Pellegrino said. “I didn’t really tell my family. I wrote a lot and didn’t tell them I entered in the competition.”

Out of 900 entries, a panel of judges chose one work they wanted to sponsor.

“I got to meet with the women who chose my text.  I think she chose mine because our writing is similar,” he said.

Pellegrino’s story is set in a village in Switzerland during World War II.

It is written from the perspective of the village.

“The point is the people in the village start to wonder what’s going on,” he said.

Pellegrino explained some of the background behind his story.

“In French and German Literature, it always comes back to World War II, but I think (for Swiss literature) there is still something to say about that,” he said.

After reading excerpts from his story, Pellegrino offered to answer questions about his work and the experiences he had winning the award.

“It is so cool that someone like this is at USI. It is interesting to hear his perspective,” said Ian Brand, a senior CIS major.

Pellegrino told attendees about his writing process and literary style. 

“I think about it a lot.  Thinking about it and mulling over ideas makes me want to write,” Pellegrino said.

Silvia Rode, chair of modern and classical languages, praised Pellegrino’s work.

“What makes him so special as a person and an artist is his ability to combine experiences of two worlds: a small-town upbringing that promoted his earthiness, imagination and curiosity and the sophistication that he acquired through language study and travels,” Rode said.

Pellegrino has still to decide where he wants his writing to take him in life.

“I never know where I’m going to be years from now, but I don’t want to plan it,” he said.