Silversmithing photo by Tara Burns

WBCA In the News

Local students tackle issues, look to future in writing contest

May 20, 2008

By Jane Fredericksen, Press Correspondent
White Bear Press

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Their voices are thoughtful, passionate, poignant and humorous. Some seek to persuade; others hope to provoke. Each and every one has something profound to say.

All of them are in high school.

On Thursday, May 8, the White Bear Center for the Arts honored winners of the 30th Annual WriteNow! High School Writing Contest. Winners, friends and families attended an evening reception at the White Bear Armory. Ten teen authors read their winning pieces aloud.

This year, judges received 130 entries from students at Mahtomedi High School, Hill-Murray High School, Mounds Park Academy and White Bear Lake High Schools--both North and South campuses.

Eighteen students took home prizes in four different categories: poetry, short story, essay and one-act play. Entries were split into grades 9/10 and 11/12, and students were able to enter up to three works per category. A three-judge panel of professional writers in each category reviewed submissions and selected winners.

The contest is unique from other writing contests in that there is no entry fee, but winners receive cash prizes. "Award of Excellence" wins $50, "Award of Merit" nets $30, while "Honorable Mention" takes home $10.

WBCA Executive Director Suzi Hudson told the audience, "Each year I'm astounded by the courage and participation that we continue to see in this high school writing contest." Referring to the cash awards, she added, "Congratulations! You are all now professional writers!"

Contest coordinator and retired Mahtomedi High School English teacher Roberta Johnson stressed that while some students win multiple times, all submissions are anonymous. "The judges choose quality, not names or community."

Kaitlin Muth is one of those repeat winners. A senior at Mahtomedi, the 18-year-old won both an Award of Merit and Honorable Mention in Poetry, and an Award of Excellence for her short story, "All in Beige."

Muth said she has won an award each year she's entered, but was still excited when informed of her selection this year. "It felt great!" Muth exclaimed. "It is so awesome that we have this opportunity."

The young scribe will attend Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., next year. She won a scholarship based on the strength of her work and plans to pursue "a self-designed major" in creative writing.

Not every winner plans to become a professional author.

White Bear Lake South Campus senior Trevor Ludden, 18, hinted that he may explore a career in science, but could continue writing for fun. "It'll be a great hobby," he said.

Mahtomedi senior Midori Neaton, 17, hopes to attend St. Olaf College and become a math teacher. Her short play, "Pink Shoes," was performed at the Mahtomedi High School One-Act Festival in February.

Neaton said the play's opening, in which the hero searches under restaurant tables for his blind date's shoes "just popped into my head." She added, "I also really like awkward-moment humor."

Johnson praised the diversity and creativity of 2008 student topics. "It's so indicative of who they are ... the things that are happening in their lives,” she said.

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