2025 Power of the Pen State Tournament

Wednesday-Thursday, May 21-22, 2025, at Ashland University

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Latest Updates!

Click on the flyer below for our most recent State reminder/update! (as of 04/18/25)

Previous Flyers:

2025 State Tournament Flyer -- 03/12/25

2025 State Tournament Reminders & Updates Flyer -- 04/09/25

Self-Pay for Rooms & Meal Packages

*website opens March 16th*

This is a 'self-pay' option for parents, chaperones, runners, etc. planning to stay in the residence halls during the 2025 State Tournament, or for those interested in additional meal packages. Residence hall keys and meal tickets will be distributed at registration check-in during the State Tournament.

The deadline for purchasing or refunding rooms/meal packages is May 9th, 2025 at midnight, no exceptions. Please note, meal tickets will not be available for purchase at the State Tournament.

Click on the images to the right to visit our 2025 State Rooms and Meals Google Site

State Tournament Schedule

Click here for the 2025 State Tournament Schedule!

Keep in mind that there will be adjustments to the schedule. Parents should contact their child's coach for more information; participation in the state tournament is coordinated through the coach.

All participants are welcome to attend the Wednesday activities: a creative writing workshop at 4:00 p.m. and again at 5:15 p.m., as well as a dance from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. It is not necessary to sign up, although each team's students must be accompanied by a chaperone for all activities. Download the campus map to see where activities take place. Alternatively, download this map with directions for arriving to Ashland University.

Notes and Reminders

Thank you to all who have registered for the 2025 State Tournament. We're looking forward to seeing you at Ashland University!

A few reminders:

• The Convocation Center at 638 Jefferson Street, Ashland, Ohio, 44805 is the central meeting location for the tournament. 
• Coaches must check in the team at two spots: 1) The Convocation Center Lobby for meals and residence hall rooms; 2) The Convocation Center Trustees Room for writer and judge codes.
• Click here to view Ashland University's previous summer menu! Specific items will change, but it will give you an idea of what to expect. There are dairy-free and gluten-free accommodations within the dining hall.
• Plan the arrival for contestants, codes, and judges so that everyone is on site well in advance of the closing of writer registration. Coaches register their teams at writer registration from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, and 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 22. All coaches, judges, and writers must be present for the coach to check in the team.
• Any contestant who is not present and checked in by 8:45 a.m. Thursday, May 22, is not permitted to participate in the tournament.

No refunds are issued after April 20, 2025. A fee of $75 will be charged for each contestant drop and $100 for each judge drop after April 2o. This includes drops at the state tournament.

Adults are needed to serve in the tabroom on Thursday, May 22. Volunteers report to the tabroom at 10:00 a.m. and may serve any hours until about 3:30 p.m. Volunteers are especially needed after noon. Sign up using the Tabroom Volunteer Form. Email cheryl.bledsoe@powerofthepen.org with questions about the tabroom.

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Student Volunteer Runners

We appreciate all of the student runners who have volunteered for the tournament! Coaches, please remember to bring only writers and runners that you have registered for the tournament. Other students are not permitted to attend the tournament unless they are with their parents the entire time.

Runners are required to attend either the orientation session at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday or the orientation at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Outside of these times, runners are free to participate in state tournament activities. There is no fee for runners other than costs for any required residence hall rooms and meals.

All runners must have completed the 2025 Runner's Commitment Contract in order to serve in this role. Coaches, please complete the 2025 State Tournament Volunteer Runners Google form by April 26th!

Please contact darcy.leis@powerofthepen.org with questions.

Meet Guest Author justin a. reynolds!

justin a. reynolds, best selling author and Power of the Pen alum, will join as our Guest Author at the 2025 State Tournament!

justin vividly remembers the thrill of qualifying for the Power of the Pen State Tournament when he was a 7th grader on the Elyria Westwood Middle School team. As an alum, justin will share his excitement and experience with young Power of the Pen writers one-on-one at book signings on Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon, and during his keynote presentation at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. Every student participating in the State Tournament will receive a copy of his latest publication, which is included in their registration fee. 

justin a. reynolds has always wanted to be a writer. Opposite of Always, his debut YA novel, was an Indies Introduce Top Ten debut, a School Library Best Book of 2019, translated in 19 languages, is being developed for film by Paramount Players, and was recently adapted into a popular Webtoon. His second YA novel, Early Departures, published to critical acclaim and was a Kirkus Reviews Best of 2020. His Marvel graphic novel debut featuring Brooklyn's Spider-Man, Miles Morales: Shock Waves, was an ABA Indie Bestseller. justin is also the co-founder of the CLE Reads Book Festival, a Cleveland Book Festival for middle-grade and young adult readers and writers. Find him at www.justinareynolds.com

*Information courtesy of author justin a. reynolds, from his website https://www.justinareynolds.com/media-kit-2