Sanford Students Honored for Outstanding Writing

More than 90,000 seventh through twelfth graders across the country submit work to the annual competition, which is sponsored by the Scholastic Corporation and presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Work is judged by industry leaders and exhibited in New York and at local exhibitions around the country. “For most young winners,” the Corporation has stated, “this recognition is their first experience of being identified as serious artists and writers, and the impact on their self-perception can be life-changing.”

Work earning Gold and Silver Key recognitions is currently on view at the Art Gallery at Delaware State University in Dover, until February 7th. Printed excerpts from Gold Key works written by students in grades seven through twelve are on view alongside the visual works by Art Award winners. Printed excerpts from works by seniors awarded a Silver Key are also on display. In addition, visitors can view all Gold and Silver Key works in their entirety on e-readers in the gallery space.

Three Sanford students received “Gold Keys,” the highest level of recognition, in this year’s competition. Ivana Gatica earned two gold keys: one for her complete Writing Portfolio, “A Recollection of Life,” and one for her short story, “The Gravedigger,” which was also nominated for an American Voices Award. Ivana also received a silver key for her poem “My Brother’s Shoes,” and an honorable mention recognition for the “Flash Fiction” piece, “The Storm.” Caroline Fritz earned gold for her Personal Essay/Memoir, “Life is a Bucket of Bagworms,” and Kimberly Riordan received gold key recognition for her critical essay “Helium, the Noblest of Gases.”

Silver Key winners were Benson Cook, for the Personal Essay/Memoir “Parlez Vous Francais”; and Samantha Stevenson, for a piece of humor writing entitled “Big Fish, Little Pond: How to Rule Your World, as well as for her critical essay “When You Wish Upon a Star: Disney Movies Impact Our Children’s Behavior.”

Students earning Honorable Mention were:

Lily Connolly, Poetry, “3 Poem Collection”
Hannah Duffy, Personal Essay/Memoir, “My Purple Flower”
Breanna Mendell, Critical Essay, “Dorian Gray’s Character Metamorphosis”
Freddy Ryle, Poetry, "A Compilation of Poems"
Trevor Schlack, Personal Essay/Memoir, “Untitled”
Maryssa Shelton, Critical Essay, “Why Prison is the Antithesis of Where the Mentally Ill Belong”

Congratulations to all this year’s winners. Be sure to visit the gallery to see the unique work of Sanford’s talented students for yourself!