The Orinda Junior Women's Club (OJWC) is pleased to announce the winners of Youth Ink, an annual creative writing contest open to all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students who live or attend school in Orinda.
Youth Ink received over 85 submissions that were each read and critiqued by an esteemed panel of local professional writers comprised of Deborah Davis, Melissa Manlove, Scott Ostler and Yvonne Prinz.
The 2010 Youth Ink winners are:
First Place, Prize of $250: Saane Halaholo, OIS, Grade 8, for "The Freedom to End Persecution"
Second Place, Prize of $125: Caie Kelley, OIS, Grade 8, for "Zhi Yiu"
Third Place, Prize of $75: Dan Eberhard, OIS, Grade 8, for "Freedom"
"Participants in this year's Youth Ink competition took and educated, heartfelt and creative approach to their interpretations to this year's theme, "Free." They delivered a wide variety of entries - from short stories to personal essays and poems, focusing on topics ranging from world events to intimate depictions of what freedom means in our small community," said Molly Griffin Wilson, president of the Orinda Junior Women's Club. "The readings at the upcoming awards ceremony are sure to be poignant and captivating."
Youth Ink winners will be honored at an awards ceremony and reading at the Orinda Library Auditorium on Thursday, April 29, at 6:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
Generous co-sponsors of Youth Ink include The Orinda Association, Friends of the Orinda Library, Denning & Company, Mason McDuffie, Ann Sullivan of Coldwell Banker, Stevens Printing and Orinda Books. The Orinda Junior Women's Club welcomes additional sponsorships to ensure continued success.
Orinda Junior Women's Club (OJWC), a local non-profit service organization, supports a wide variety of organizations in the greater East Bay. Every year, its community service projects help Shelter, Inc., STAND! Against Domestic Violence, the Orinda Convalescent Home, the Oakland Children's Hospital Family House and others. If you are interested in becoming an OJWC member, please email orindajuniors@yahoo.com.
Listed in alphabetical order, the following individuals were selected by the judges to receive an honorable mention. Each will be awarded with a $25 gift certificate from Orinda Books.
Carolyn Brager, OIS, Grade 6, for "The Diary of a Jewish Girl"
Anna Finnell, OIS, Grade 8, for "They Call Me Fearless"
Rachel Langer, OIS, Grade 8, for "Finally Free"
Colleen McCullough, OIS, Grade 8, for "Free from the Memory"
Jack Niehaus, OIS, Grade 6, for "A Life in Tunes"
Gabriel Ostler, OIS, Grade 8, for "The Doors"
Olivia Saber, OIS, Grade 8, for "What Freedom Means to Me"
Clarissa Sandvik, OIS, Grade 6, for "I'm Free"
Andrea Tuemmler, OIS, Grade 8, for "Free the Emancipated"
Alexis Zwahlen, OIS Grade 8, for "Road to Freedom"
(All other participants will receive a gift certificate for Loard's Ice Cream in Orinda)
Youth Ink received over 85 submissions that were each read and critiqued by an esteemed panel of local professional writers comprised of Deborah Davis, Melissa Manlove, Scott Ostler and Yvonne Prinz.
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA