The 2009 Connecticut Young Writers Awards Ceremony
The 2009 Connecticut Young Writers awards ceremony, which highlights works of poetry and prose submitted by teenagers from throughout the state, will be held for the first time this year the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, after 11 years at the Litchfield Inn.
The competition has inspired the participation of over 580 students this year -- the third highest number of entries in the competition's 12 years -- and is sponsored by IMPAC and the Connecticut State University System.The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
"There could not be a better setting to honor outstanding young writers than the Mark Twain House & Museum. The talent and creativity of a new generation of Connecticut writers is clearly evident, and the inspiration that Mark Twain's example provides is especially fitting as we recognize their excellent prose and poetry," said David G. Carter, chancellor of the Connecticut State University System.
That evening,16 students who were selected in April as county winners in prose and poetry categories from Connecticut's eight counties, will be vying for selection as the statewide winner.
"With the help of many sponsors and volunteer laborers throughout Connecticut, we are able to say, again, to Connecticut's best young writers: 'Yes, you are a poet. Yes, you are writer.' We are honored especially this year to walk where Twain walked as we affirm and celebrate the work of young writers," said Andy Thibault, chairman of the Connecticut Young Writers Trust.
The awards ceremony is preceded by afternoon programs and writing workshops for the students, as well as tours of the Mark Twain House & Museum.
The poetry county champions vying for the statewide prize are:
Jhyde Ryals, 18, of Fitch Senior High School of Groton, for her poem, "To Jhyde: From Daddy;"
Yarelis Rivera, 14, of Windham High School, for her poem, "I Said No."
Amanda Ball, 17, of Greenwich Academy, for her poem, "Snapshots Denied;"
Kevin Redmond, 17, of Torrington High School, for his poem, "The Cold Stare Of Infinity;"
Cara Dorris, 15, of Glastonbury High School, for her poem, "hors de Paris;"
Jamie Phillips, 17, of E.O. Smith High School, for her poem, "Longevity;"
Dillon Jones, 16, of Old Saybrook High School, for his poem, "Ode;"
Felicity Sheehy, 16, of Westover School of Middlebury, for her poem, "Evening Conversation."
The prose county champions eligible for the statewide award are:
Hilary Sunderland, 17, of Griswold High School, for her story, "Beauty in the Breakdown;"
Kianne Gaylor, 18, of Woodstock Adademy, for her story, "Illuminating the Shadows."
Emma Lowenberg, 16, of the Lowenberg Home School in Redding, for her story, "Bernard;"
Clarissa Burch, 15, of New Milford High School, for her story, "Missing You;"
Leah Shafer, 16, of Simsbury High School, for her story, "Snap;"
Jessica Ruman, 17, of Rockville High School, for her story, "Photo;"
Evelyn Benvie, 18, of Valley Regional High School of Deep River, for her story, "Once More;"
Aliza Gans, 16, of Educational Center for the Arts of New Haven, for her story, "The Mile."
Co-masters of ceremonies for the program are author Rand Richards Cooper, broadcaster Diane Smith, Central Connecticut State University Professor of English Ravi Shankar, and author/columnist Colin McEnroe.
Speakers will include Rockville High School senior Melanie Lieberman, the 2007 state prose champion; and her teacher, Victoria Nordlund, chair of Rockville's English department.
Performance poet and slam coach Elizabeth Thomas, the Connecticut Review Poet in Residence for the Naugatuck public schools, will lead an afternoon workshop for teachers on how to teach performance poetry.
The 16 county champions were selected in each category earlier this year, in regional ceremonies held at: Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, for Hartford and Tolland counties; Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, for Fairfield and Litchfield counties; Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, for Middlesex and New Haven counties; and Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, for New London and Windham counties. The regional ceremonies drew record crowds this year, starting with more than 200 young writers, family members, teachers and friends at Central.
The Young Writers Trust, which administers the program, reduced the county finalist awards from $1,000 to $500 this year because of a shortfall in funding of more than $10,000. The writers trust also decided to resume its practice of giving cash awards to the state champion in prose and poetry instead of offering a trip to Dublin, Ireland, which was the prize for the past few years. Since 1998, the Trust has given more than $174,000 to Connecticut's best young writers
The state winners in prose and poetry, to be announced at the Mark Twain House & Museum ceremony, will have their work considered for publication in Connecticut Review, the literary journal published by the Connecticut State University System (CSUS).
"The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter -- it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." Mark Twain, 1888.
"These students certainly understand what Mark Twain was saying in 1888.The Mark Twain House &Museum is honored to host the 12th Annual Young Writers Award Ceremony. Hartford's Nook Farm was a haven for 19th century writers, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dudley Warner, and, of course, Mark Twain. I can not think of a more fitting location in Connecticut for this prestigious awards ceremony," said Jeffrey L. Nichols, executive director of The Mark Twain House & Museum.
The May 31 event, which will be catered by La Cupola Ristorante and feature the Jen Allen Big Band, begins at 5:30 p.m.
Ceremonies begin at 7:00 p.m. [Tickets are $50 per person. Teachers participating in the 4:30 p.m. teacher workshop should add $25.]
INVITATION
You are cordially invited to attend the 12TH Annual IMPAC-CSU System Young Writers Statewide Ceremony &Celebration Sunday, May 31, 2009 Mark Twain House &Museum, 351 Farmington, Ave., Hartford *
2 p.m. Tour & Programs For Young Writers 4:30 p.m.
Workshops For Young Writers & Teachers (CEUs granted) 5:30-6:45 p.m.
Reception Catered By Frank Rosa's La Cupola Ristorante &Inn 7 p.m.
Awards Ceremony Reception Entertainment Jen Allen Big Band
Co-Masters of Ceremonies Rand Richards Cooper, Author Diane Smith, Author & Positively CT TV Host Ravi Shankar, Poet in Residence, English Professor, CCSU Colin McEnroe, Author & Columnist, Hartford Courant
Special Guests Melanie Lieberman, 2007 State Prose Champion Victoria Nordlund, poet & English teacher Elizabeth Thomas, Teacher Workshop Leader / Performance Poetry Reception Donation*
$50 per person (teacher workshop add $25)
RSVP by May 21, 2009 ANDY THIBAULT IMPAC-CSU System Young Writers Trust 231 Beach St. Litchfield, CT 06759 800-814-6931 or 860-690-0211 tntcomm82@cs.com www.ctyoungwriters.org The IMPAC-Connecticut State University System Young Writers Trust is a non-profit foundation affiliated by Charter with the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and classified by the IRS as a 501 C (3) Public Charity. Federal Tax ID: 31-1635811
* FRANK ROSA WILL OPEN THE cash BAR @ 2PM AND Begin Serving Some Food at that time ....