Power of the Pen (copy) Alumni News

Guest Author justin a. reynolds Shares Milestone at 2023 State Tournament

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:12:55 GMT

“Power of the Pen was an awesome mile marker along my path to becoming a best- selling author.”

~ justin a. reynolds, Power of the Pen alum and author of Opposite of Always, Miles Morales: Shock Waves, and more.

justin a. reynolds was the guest author at the Power of the Pen State tournament at Ashland University, May 18-19, 2023. During Friday's keynote, he shared insights about making writing a career and connecting with readers. State tournament participants had the opportunity to talk with justin during book signings on Thursday and Friday.

Power of the Pen Alum Wins Fellowship From Reese’s Book Club

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 22:05:10 GMT

Granville Power of the Pen alum Margot Fisher has been selected by Reese’s Book Club for the prestigious LitUp Fellowship. LitUp selected five unpublished and underrepresented women writers out of more than 800 submissions for a mentorship with a published author and publishing support.

Margot has been working on revising her own novel with her mentor, Laurie Frankel, author of four novels including One, Two, Three. Margot is attending a writing retreat in March, followed by an agenting round and a guarantee of publishing support from Reese's Book Club.

A Dream Come True

“The LitUp Fellowship is an amazing opportunity that I am so grateful for!” Margot says. “Traditional publication has been a dream of mine since childhood. Power of the Pen was the first time I felt like it might actually be possible.”

Margot’s coach was the late Susan Cramer, a longtime Power of the Pen coach, state tournament guest author liaison, and board member. ”Susan Cramer, our incredible coach, was an amazing mentor to me,” Margot says. “She taught me so much about craft and storytelling, and always pushed me to become the best writer I could be. It didn't matter to her that we were middle schoolers – she saw our potential and enabled us to grow and learn.”

Lifelong Impact

Looking back on her experiences in Power of the Pen, Margot says it was her most meaningful school experience. “Even now, fifteen years later, I find myself using tools I developed on those Wednesday afternoons in the French room after school,” Margot says. “It changed my life and I wouldn't have gotten here today without it.”

Reese Witherspoon holds Leave It on the Track by Margot Fisher. This photo was used in the fellowship announcement.

Scholastic Publishes Middle Grade Novel by Power of the Pen Alum Lindsay Puckett

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 13:53:27 GMT

Lindsay Puckett started writing short stories at the age of 10, when her voracious reading habit fueled a desire to reach others. “I just wanted to make someone else feel the shock and tension and excitement I felt when I sunk into a great story,” she says.

She joined the West Carrollton Power of the Pen team in 7th grade, learning lessons that have stayed with her throughout her journey as a writer: “The importance of finishing projects (you can never publish if you never get to “The End!”), working under a deadline, how to handle feedback on my writing, dealing with rejections (my writing was rejected 104 times before I found a literary agent), and always striving to keep learning and improving my craft, to name just a few!” Lindsay says.

Writing for Her 12-Year-Old Self

Lindsay’s debut middle grade novel, The Glass Witch, is being released by Scholastic on October 18, 2022. The Glass Witch is a spooky fantasy in which the main character reluctantly joins a Halloween-themed pageant to rid the town of a vicious witch hunter.

“When I was a kid, girls who looked like me didn’t get to be main characters in stories,” she says. “Chubby girls didn’t go on adventures or slay the dragon, and they most certainly didn’t wear pageant tiaras. In fact, the only fat girls I saw in media were the “mean girls” or the comic relief. I cannot convey the harm that did to me and millions of girls like me.”

Lindsay says she wrote The Glass Witch for her 12-year-old self: “A girl who was complicated. Brooding. Self-conscious. Angry about how the world treated her. But was also loyal and brave and driven and passionate,” she says. “A girl who could be morally complex, who had space to mess up again and again and grow and learn from her mistakes.”

Her goal is to help kids see themselves and others in a different light. “If reading this book can make a difference in at least one child’s life – whether that is seeing their body types positively represented, learning how to treat those different from them, or even just an escape from reality for a small while – then I have done my job,” Lindsay says.

Developing a Writing Career

Lindsay advises Power of the Pen writers to consume as many stories as possible. “Read from genres you love. Read from genres you’ve never tried before,” she says. “Read poetry. Read – gasp! – nonfiction. Read from a background and experience that isn’t your own.”

Look for stories beyond books, as well. “Watch your favorite movies or TV show and focus on how the plot and characters unfold,” Lindsay says. “I promise you will learn something from all of these categories that will teach you something about your own authorial voice.”

Lindsay kept her Power of the Pen tournament materials from 8th grade. Her 8th grade tournament folder, a story from the competition, and her regional qualifier ribbon are pictured here with The Glass Witch.

Film by Power of the Pen Alum Noah Dixon Debuts at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:43:23 GMT

As the grandson of Power of the Pen founders Frank and Lorraine Merrill, Noah Dixon grew up surrounded by creativity. And when he reached 7^th grade, it was natural that he would participate on the team at Roosevelt Middle School in Springfield.

His experiences with the group fostered a love of storytelling. “I have many fond memories traveling to tournaments and meeting creative writers from other schools around Ohio,” he says. “Power of the Pen gave me the opportunity to use my imagination in a way that I had never done before. It allowed me to create new worlds and characters.”

A Passion for Moviemaking

Image by Zane Oser

After high school, Noah intended to study music at Denison University in Granville, envisioning a future as a composer of film scores. But after taking a few film classes at Denison, Noah discovered that his true love is moviemaking. “I am passionate about film because it is a medium which allows me to combine many forms of art – screenwriting, music, photography, and more,” he says.

Noah and several of his Denison classmates formed a production company, Loose Films, after graduating from college. Their film POSER, created by Noah Dixon and Ori Segev, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021. A thriller set in the Columbus indie music scene, POSER is “Absolutely brimming with style, atmosphere and a healthy dose of dry, laugh out loud humor,” according to Liza Domnitz of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Noah drew on his own interests in writing the script. “I created a narrative based on a world that I knew,” he says. “It was both fun and challenging to create a plot and characters based on real people and locations in Columbus.”

A World Premier

The team hadn’t expected to be accepted into Tribeca when they submitted POSER for consideration. “It was very surreal traveling to New York and watching it with a full audience for the first time,” Noah says.

Being immersed in a creative environment is one aspect of moviemaking that Noah enjoys the most. “The best part about working on the film was collaborating with so many other talented artists and musicians,” he says. “There is something very special about dozens of talented people pouring their hearts into a film, and I am so happy that we have been able to share POSER around the world.”

Image of Ori Segev (left) and Noah Dixon by Anthony Codispotti

Power of the Pen Leads to Reporting Career for St. Mary of the Falls’s Paige Bennett

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:34:06 GMT

Canton Repository reporter Paige Bennett credits Power of the Pen tournaments’ 40-minute writing rounds with teaching her to craft stories under pressure - an essential aspect of her profession.

“Part of my job as a journalist is being able to write on a deadline,” she says. “Power of the Pen was one of my first experiences writing under time constraints. It taught me the importance of outlining, pacing, and story structure. I use these skills in my career almost every day.”

An Early Start

Paige, who participated as a middle school student with St. Mary of the Falls in Olmsted Falls, has been writing since her earliest days in grade school. But until she joined Power of the Pen, she was afraid for others to read her writing.

“I started writing stories when I was eight or nine years old, but I was a shy kid, so I didn’t share them with anyone,” she says. “Power of the Pen gave me the confidence to show my writing to other people.”

In 8th grade, Paige qualified for the Power of the Pen state tournament. “It was one of the most exciting moments for me as a middle schooler,” she says. “I had a wonderful time writing and meeting other kids who had a passion for storytelling.”

Limitless Possibilities

Power of the Pen district and regional tournaments each feature three rounds of writing. Students are given the prompt at the beginning of the round. Most contestants respond with a narrative, but students are welcome to write in any form.

Prompts are open-ended to allow middle school writers to draw on their own experiences and interests in crafting a response. A particularly successful prompt in 2022, for example, was “They said it was impossible. Show them how wrong they were.”

For Paige, hearing classmates’ writing in Power of the Pen meetings was a revelation. Power of the Pen “helped me realize the limitless possibilities of writing,” she says. “It was amazing to see so many students take different directions with the same prompt.”

Paige also learned that developing writing skills is a lifelong endeavor. In Power of the Pen, she could see her growth as a writer. “It was fun to look back at previous stories and realize how much my writing had changed over time,” she says.

Paige has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kent State University. She covers Alliance and western Mahoning County for the Repository.

Dayton Kiwanis Club Honors Power of the Pen Teachers and Writer

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:32:59 GMT

The Dayton Kiwanis recently honored 8th grade Power of the Pen writer Liliane (Lili) Kiewitz of the Montessori School of Dayton with the Randy Kramer Award for Writing Excellence.

Given in memory of Randy Kramer, a longtime Dayton Kiwanis member and fervent supporter of Power of the Pen, the award is presented annually to the top 8th grade writer at the district tournament serving Montgomery County.

The club welcomed Lili, her mother Sarah Kiewitz, and Power of the Pen Executive Director Barb Tschantz to its April 19 meeting. Lili read her tournament piece "I'm Fine," written in response to the prompt "Goosebumps suddenly appeared on your arms. Why?" The group was impressed with the piece's vivid first-person portrayal of a panic attack.

The Dayton Kiwanis also recognized Brittasha Thompson and Bridget Hughes of Tippecanoe Middle School as outstanding teachers for 2022, though these coaches could not be present at the meeting. At the meeting, the Dayton Kiwanis presented executive director Barb Tschantz with a generous donation to support these awards, the district tournament serving Montgomery County, and the program in general.

Central Middle School Alumni Have Prestigious Careers

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 00:33:59 GMT

More than two decades after joining Power of the Pen as middle school students, alumni from the late 1990s team at Findlay Central Middle School look back at Power of the Pen as a key step on their career paths. Members of the team, who have stayed in touch, hold various leadership positions in organizations across the country.

Ashley Barger owns Do Some Good Marketing, LLC, a content management marketing company. Brittany Schell is director of newsroom projects with Hearst Newspapers in San Francisco, and Sarah Sisser serves as executive director of the Hancock Historical Museum in Findlay.

Igniting the Spark

Ashley, Brittany, and Sarah wrote under the guidance of coach Barb Matheny. All agree that Barb was a remarkably inspiring teacher.

“Through Power of the Pen, I learned that there was good and bad writing, that it was a skill you could sharpen and improve, and that it was something people did as a profession,” Brittany says. “After that, when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said ‘a journalist.’ "

For Barb, coaching the team became a core passion in her career because of its effect on the writers.

“I still get comments from former students telling me how much they learned about writing and the positive impact it has had on their writing skills,” Barb says. “Power of the Pen also gave them confidence and humility when they didn't win - and a sense of being driven to take the suggestions of the judges and improve for the next time.”

Finding Their Way

For these writers, Power of the Pen inspired confidence in their unique abilities.

“The disciplines in creative writing that Power of the Pen taught me propelled me into crafting a skill I didn’t even know I had,” Ashley says. “I learned how to creatively present information in a compelling way.”

For Brittany, who didn’t feel as if she could find a place in athletics, Power of the Pen provided a place to belong. “Power of the Pen gave me confidence and taught me to be comfortable with who I am. The physical didn’t matter when I put pen to paper,” she says. “It was my mind and imagination that mattered while writing. I remember how it felt to win first place for one of my stories at a competition when I was in 8th grade, how my heart swelled with pride as I clutched the precious black notebook that was the prize.”

Sarah had a similar experience. “It was a tremendous feeling to be able to match my talents against others throughout the state and to be recognized for my accomplishments in the same way I had seen fellow students acknowledged for athletics,” she says. “It really helped to build my self-esteem as a young teen.”

Writing in Careers

The skills that these writers developed as middle school students have carried through their careers.

Brittany achieved her dream of becoming a journalist. “I’ve worked at the San Francisco Chronicle, Agence France-Presse and other media organizations, and writing skills have always been fundamental to my career in journalism,” she says. “It’s not only writing news stories. Whether I’m writing a memo to my boss, posting a story on social media or writing a presentation for the team, knowing how to use words to tell a story is important in so many ways for my job.”

Ashley runs her own business that relies on creativity. “Power of the Pen can give you a starting point for finding your voice, systemizing your writing style, and help you work on a skill that is necessary in almost any job you take on,” Ashley says.

Sarah has a BFA in Historic Preservation and Architectural History from the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, Georgia, and a master’s degree in Community Planning from Auburn University. She returned to Findlay in 2013 to take the helm of the Hancock Historical Museum.

“My job is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given. It plays to my strengths and my interests, and it affords me so much creativity,” Sarah says. “In my career, I am always leaning on my ability to clearly express myself through my writing, even with something as simple as an email to a colleague or professional acquaintance. To be able to tell a story or paint a picture with your words is an incredibly valuable skill.”

Coach Spotlight: Mentoring Student Writers by Building on Strengths

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 11:20:35 GMT

Coldwater Middle School Coach Erica Oh knows that young authors thrive when readers appreciate their work. Erica has made it her mission to give thoughtful attention to every writer’s efforts, whether it’s a student on her own team or a contestant from another school at a Power of the Pen tournament.

As a 10-year Power of the Pen coach, Erica serves as a judge at Power of the Pen competitions in the Northwest Region. Erica has learned from her own students that they crave specific guidance on their writing at tournaments. While judges do not evaluate the work of their own students in competition, Erica takes her responsibilities to young writers from other schools seriously, knowing how much the judges’ comments mean to them.

“I make it my goal to give encouraging, quality, helpful feedback to each student,” Erica says. “I try to point out to the writers the specific skills they demonstrated well and specific areas that need more work … I want them to go away with a clear plan for improvement in future writings.”

Emotional Connections

Erica applies the same careful attention to her own writers as they meet to support and encourage one another in developing their creative writing talents. As a Power of the Pen alum herself, Erica understands the importance of making connections with readers.

“I'll never forget once making my coach cry in practice with one of my stories,” Erica says. “It's something special being able to evoke emotion within your reader; coaching allows me to encourage a new generation in that art.”

Erica strives to make practices a supportive environment where writers can take creative risks while talking over new ways of thinking about writing. “I love seeing my students' excitement about their stories and their creativity in coming up with unique approaches to the prompts,” she says. “We have lively conversations surrounding their ideas and writings.”

The Thrill of Competition

Tournaments provide an extra incentive for students to keep exploring techniques to polish their writing. “I loved to write stories as a kid and loved having an authentic outlet to do so through Power of the Pen,” Erica says. “I still remember the excitement of awaiting the results at competitions and the sense of accomplishment coming home with stories for my family to read.”

In everything she does as a coach, Erica inspires a new generation to share their own unique stories with readers.

Alum Kelly Hurt Gives Back by Serving as a Tournament Scorer

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 17:37:10 GMT

Complete the Volunteer form if you’d like to help out with Power of the Pen!

When Kelly Hurt participated in her middle school Power of the Pen team in 1998, she won a Best of Round award as an 8th grader at the district level.

“It was the first time I was acknowledged as an above-average writer by someone I didn't think was ‘supposed to’ tell me I was good at writing,” Kelly says. “It wouldn't be until years later I would actually believe I was a good writer, but it planted a seed for me.”

Understanding Stories, Understanding Each Other

Kelly’s mother is Western Region Director Paula McWilliams. Kelly helps Paula read practice pieces written by 7th and 8th graders on the St. Matthew, Gahanna, team. “The impact of Power of the Pen on my life has been really focusing on what makes a great story,” Kelly says. “This has given me a critical eye when consuming media or just relating things to others in my day-to-day life. How a story is told really is half of the magic of the tale.”

The ability to tell a good story has helped Kelly with customers in the hardship department of the financial services firm where she works. “I spend my days listening to people explaining the issues they are facing … this can be a matter of sharing humanity through storytelling,” she says. “The most important thing Power of the Pen taught me in this regard is that our struggles make us stronger, and overcoming hardships makes us the heroes of our own stories.”

Giving Back to Power of the Pen

Kelly serves as the computer scorer for the Western Region, which means she is responsible for accurately entering judges’ ballot scores into Power of the Pen’s scoring system at district and regional tournaments to determine individual student and team rankings.

“I enjoy the energy and excitement of a tournament day, and even when it's remote, there are a lot of people working together for the love of storytelling,” Kelly says. “That’s something I really love being a part of.”

Kelly spends several weekends each season assisting in this critical role because she wants today’s middle school students to have the same opportunity she had to experience the power of storytelling.

“I would encourage alumni to be involved in Power of the Pen as a way of ‘paying forward’ the things they gained from their experience,” Kelly says. “There aren't many venues that encourage writers, so it is important to support the ones that exist. Volunteering for Power of the Pen is a unique way to nurture the love of stories in the youth of our communities.”

Writing Is One of Many Creative Endeavors for Mentor's Ayesha Faruki

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 16:11:05 GMT

Being on the Mentor Memorial Middle School Power of the Pen team is just one way that Ayesha Faruki uses her talents to create content for others to enjoy. Ayesha has combined her interests in coding, reading, writing, science, and math into creative endeavors that extend from a website to game apps to a self-published book.

Visitors to her website, https://www.afaruki.com/, will find a number of games to try, plus a preview of her self-published novel, Whisper. Ayesha, who finished third in the 7th grade at the 2021 Power of the Pen state tournament, has been writing for as long as she can remember.

“My mom always used to read books to me, and it wasn’t long before I started creating my own stories,” she says. “I would dictate them word for word for my parents to write – and I would illustrate them myself.”

Ayesha wrote Whisper when she was 11 years old. A blend of adventure and fantasy, Whisper follows six girls who discover a new world while on a field trip. As the Chosen, they must navigate both the new reality and the world from which they came, all while working to fix flaws that inhabitants of the new world have become oblivious to.

Ayesha has been coding since she was 6 years old. She develops games on an MIT platform called Scratch. The games are released within the Scratch community for 8- to 16-year-olds, as well as on her website. Ayesha published her website to inspire other kids to publish their own works. “I remember that amazed feeling when I was younger and saw stories about kids and teens who did something great – especially those young authors who developed their bestselling novels as teens,” she says. “I hope to start a blog of my own soon to write about my own interests.”

Whether writing, coding games, adding to her website, or drawing illustrations to accompany her writing, Ayesha loves the freedom in pursuing creative endeavors. “All of these give me the power to be able to create something by myself, and something that I’m proud of,” Ayesha says. “I also enjoy sketching and drawing, and both this and writing help me visualize different worlds and people. I illustrated and designed my front cover of Whisper, and also drew all of the pictures in the book.”

Ayesha is involved in many activities at Memorial Middle School, including Science Olympiad, Math Club, Junior Model United Nations, the National Junior Honor Society, the school newspaper club, book club, and Student Council. Game On was her favorite event in Science Olympiad, as it involves the knowledge of both coding and science.

Winning third place in her grade level at the Power of the Pen State Tournament and being published in the 2021 Book of Winners inspired Ayesha to self-publish Whisper, the first in a planned series called The Cities of the Lost. Power of the Pen also helped Ayesha focus her stories. “I think the best thing about Power of the Pen for me as a writer were the time constraints,” she says. “They allowed me not to put too many unnecessary scenes in my writing.”

Ayesha recently finished writing another novel, The Legends of Atruviia, and plans to publish it, as well.

The Parent Coach: Prepare to Be Inspired

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 11:59:01 GMT

As Melissa Stickney watched her daughter’s love for reading and writing blossom during the pandemic, she had an idea: Why not ask the school if she, as a parent, could form and coach its first-ever Power of the Pen team? The school’s answer was a resounding “Yes.”

Though not a teacher at Rocky River, Melissa worked with the district to secure the technology to connect online with writers and recruit interested students for the team. Meetings began in fall 2020.

A Place to Connect

Melissa’s first online meeting with the team started with an object lesson. Everyone picked an object and wrote for fifteen minutes. Writers described the object in detail using all five senses and explained its significance.

“One wrote about a rock. Another, a pen. Another, her cell phone,” Melissa says. “And yet all these pieces had something in common. They were all about connection. Pandemic isolation highlighted that storytelling was essential.”

Team members bonded over their love of writing, encouraging and inspiring one another. “On their own, the writers formed a texting group for support and laughter,” Melissa says.

Dedicated Time to Develop Writing Skills

Melissa used the resources provided by Power of the Pen to plan learning activities for meetings. These included the Book of Winners, which provides models of exemplary 7th and 8th grade writing, and the coaches’ materials on the website. She also pulled ideas from creative writing books and online resources.

Weekly meetings settled into a pattern. Melissa opened each week with a minilesson on a specific aspect of writing, supported with examples from student writing and popular YA books. Students then practiced a 40-minute response to a Power of the Pen prompt, and a few writers read their piece aloud.

“It was heart-warming to read the positive feedback being typed into the sidebar,” Melissa says. “I provided written feedback to all writers each week and used the subsequent lessons to critique indirectly.” The final 15 minutes of each meeting was social time, with lively conversations about favorite books or writing topics.

The Rocky River Middle School team was highly successful, placing second in the 8th grade in the Columbia Middle School District Tournament and third overall in the Baldwin Wallace Regional Tournament. Five Rocky River writers qualified for the state tournament. At the end of the season, students voted on individual recognition, with each writer receiving a unique award reflecting their own area of storytelling strength.

Remarkable Growth

Melissa cherished the opportunity to be a part of the students’ growth as writers. The topics they wrote about evolved as they became more confident in their own voices. “I was privileged to witness the remarkable growth in each writer’s narrative voice first-hand,” she says. “Some of my writers started with fan fiction and fantasy stories, moved to fiction about teens vaguely similar to themselves and ended the season writing vulnerable, authentic personal narratives.”

In addition, Melissa discovered that she delighted in unleashing middle school students’ creativity. “As a parent coach, I rejoiced in spending time with a bunch of compassionate, funny, and smart human beings,” Melissa says. “If you step up to coach a team, prepare to be wowed, transformed and inspired.”

Power of the Pen is returning to in-person tournaments in 2022-2023. Parents are encouraged to work with schools to form Power of the Pen teams, following all school rules and guidelines to ensure student safety. If you are interested, Power of the Pen can connect you with current coaches to learn more about what’s involved in coaching a team. Contact us at info@powerofthepen.org.

Kiwanis Club of Dayton Honors Miami Valley Student and Ankeney Middle School Coach

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:12:08 GMT

Eighth grader Rylee Boyer of Miami Valley School in Dayton recently received the Randy Kramer Award for Writing Excellence from the Kiwanis Club of Dayton. Presented in memory of longtime Dayton Kiwanis member and Power of the Pen supporter Randy Kramer, the award recognizes Rylee’s outstanding performance at the 2021 West Carrollton District Tournament.

Riley was invited to the April 20 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Dayton, held via Zoom, to read “I Won,” a story she wrote in response to the prompt Betrayed. The piece describes a battle of wills between a violinist and a pianist during a performance. Though Rylee is not a pianist, her writing was so convincing that one of the judges was sure Rylee’s story reflected personal experiences with performing on piano.

According to Rylee’s coach, Debbie Voetberg, realistic detail and the ability to evoke emotions are strengths of Rylee’s writing. “I coach the writers to think about what they know and how they can use it in their writing,” she said. “They do not have to write an entire story about an experience, but they can use a piece of it, including enough details that it is realistic to the reader.”

Rylee says that the lessons she has learned in Power of the Pen have improved her writing in academic settings, as well.

Outstanding Teacher Award

The Kiwanis Club of Dayton also presented the Outstanding Teacher Award to Carol Brown of Ankeney Middle School in Beavercreek. Ankeney won third place in the 7th grade and second place in the 8th grade at the West Carrollton tournament.

At the April Kiwanis Club of Dayton meeting, Carol shared how much Power of the Pen means to students. “Power of the Pen practices are a safe and calming place for them,” she said. “Power of the Pen provides them with a creative outlet, a chance to express themselves in a way that they cannot always do through class assignments.” As a result, Carol says, students’ confidence in their writing ability blossoms.

Carol also shared students’ comments about Power of the Pen with the Kiwanis Club of Dayton. In addition to the excitement and inspiration generated by the writing tournaments, students appreciate the one-on-one feedback they receive from judges. Students understand the time and careful thought that judges put into the comments on their writing, and they apply the judges’ advice as they hone their skills.

“Thank you for the impact you have on students and teachers,” Carol told the Kiwanis members at the close of the meeting. “Without you, Power of the Pen wouldn’t be here for our students.”

Power of the Pen Alum Co-Leads St. Brigid of Kildare to District Victory

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:05:11 GMT

Under the guidance of Power of the Pen alum Sara Hardin and co-coach Shelley Regrut, the St. Brigid of Kildare team took first place in both the 7th and 8th grades at the Gahanna Middle School South District Tournament on February 20, 2021, a remarkable accomplishment. For Sara, coaching a Power of the Pen team provides an opportunity to inspire young writers, just as she was inspired by her Power of the Pen experiences in middle school.

“All writers need hope and self-confidence to not give up, but in middle school especially, there are so many writers who need the affirmation that they are good at this and should continue pursuing their dreams,” Sara says. “When I joined Power of the Pen in 2002 and started to do well at tournaments, I was given the strength to believe in myself and my work.”

A Tradition of Excellence

When Sara began teaching in 2011-2012 at St. Brigid of Kildare in Dublin, Ohio, she says she ran to the coach to help with the Power of the Pen team. Her co-coaches at St. Brigid offered invaluable insights into writing and coaching. One former co-coach, Jennifer Maschari, is now the author of The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price and Things That Surprise You. Sara’s work with Shelley, her current co-coach, began with a reunion of sorts – Shelley judged Sara’s 8th grade Power Round writing at the 2002 state tournament.

A smaller school, St. Brigid is driven to achieve excellence as they compete against teams from schools with higher enrollments. “In the past nine years, our school has gradually grown in the number of writers we've had qualify for regional and state tournaments, and we're proud of that improvement,” Sara says. “As a smaller school, we often feel like underdogs in the wider Power of the Pen community, and that mentality drives us to do the best we can.”

The Confidence to Be Unique

Because of the timed nature of the writing rounds, Power of the Pen helps improve students’ academic performance. “In the short term, being able to write under pressure is very helpful on standardized tests and contests,” Sara notes. “One time, I had to write a piece in 50 minutes for a college scholarship contest, and I remember calmly thinking, This is nothing compared to Power of the Pen!”

Far more important, however, is the role that Power of the Pen plays in helping middle school students form their identity. “The most valuable and intangible benefit of Power of the Pen is that it can add to your sense of self, as someone separate and unique and valuable in addition to the other writers in the room,” Sara says. “Even in the competition of a tournament, it's clear that all the writers and all the stories are different. It's useless to compare yourself to others, or get intimidated by the writer sitting in the desk next to you, or worry that another writer in the room has gotten up to get more paper for the third time. We each have a story, and they won't sound the same, and that's awesome.”

A Chance to Encourage Others

For Sara, the best part of coaching Power of the Pen is encouraging writers, just as she herself was once encouraged by the team advisors, Kim Williams and Libby Grubb, at Gahanna Middle School South. “Middle school is the best time for a student to decide that they DO like writing after all, that they ARE good at it after all, and that they COULD pursue it after all,” Sara explains. “The ability has been there within the student the whole time, but sometimes I get to help bring it out of them and show it to them, like pulling a mirror out of a forgotten drawer.”

The students of St. Brigid of Kildare certainly respond to Sara and Shelley’s leadership. In addition to winning both the 7th and 8th grade team awards at the district tournament, the team earned a number of individual honors. Under Shelley’s leadership, Paige Harper placed 8th and Maren Reville placed 9th in the 7th grade, with Maren also earning a Best of Round award for “Puppy Dreams.” In the 8th grade, Eve Worley placed 3rd, Madeline Tinkler placed 6th, and Elizabeth McLaughlin placed 11th. Elizabeth was also honored with a Best of Round award for “Trouble With Humans.”

As for Sara, she continues to work on her craft as an author and is in the querying process of finding an agent for her novel. Reflecting on her journey as a writer, Sara says, “I know that Power of the Pen was the right spark of hope at the right time.”

Power of the Pen Alum Angie Peng Published in Science Fiction Magazine

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:16:02 GMT

The September/October 2020 issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction features a short story by Power of the Pen alum Angie Peng, an accomplishment she “100% attributes” to her experiences on a Power of the Pen team in middle school.

Exploring Technology's Effects on Humanity

Her story, “Do AIs Dream of Perfect Games?” features a science fiction twist on a hometown favorite, Cleveland Major League baseball. Angie’s debut piece caught the attention of SFRevu’s Sam Tomaino, who deems it worthy of an award. As an author published in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Angie is in the company of great literary figures such as Daniel Keyes and Ray Bradbury, whose work was featured in the publication in the past.

Angie’s career on the Responsible AI Team at Google informs her writing.

“Fundamentally, I’m interested in the way that technology impacts societies,” she says. “In the same way that I think the best science fiction writers are writing less about the science and more about humanity’s reaction to science, I’m interested in the ways our lives might change due to new technologies and their adoption.”

Learning What It Takes to Be a Writer

When she was a member of the Hudson Middle School team, the idea that writers need to practice their craft was a revelation to Angie.

“It was only when I found out that we would have weekly writing ‘practices’ that it occurred to me that perhaps artists didn’t just sit around waiting for inspiration or a muse or lightning to strike all the time,” Angie says. “It changed how I saw myself. I never thought of myself as a writer, and I still don’t sometimes, but it reinforced in me that if I was disciplined and motivated enough to practice my writing on a regular basis, then I could indeed be a writer.”

Angie found the competitive nature and team spirit of Power of the Pen to be motivating, as well.

“It gave me a sense of competition and camaraderie that previously I had only experienced playing sports,” she says. “From team practices to a state-wide tournament, we rooted for our teammates just as much as we wanted to win as a team.”

Angie particularly thanks her Power of the Pen coach, Mike Fejes. She tells him, “I wanted to send a note of thanks for putting in all the time over the years with precocious tweens - it really was life changing for me!”

Read one of Angie's award-winning stories from her 8th grade year in our examples of excellent student writing.

Former Power of the Pen Writer Annie Johnson Wins New York Times Narrative Contest

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 14:34:02 GMT

Annie Johnson almost didn’t enter The New York Times second annual personal narrative contest when she learned about it in October. “I knew I wouldn’t win,” she says. “But one night around three days before the deadline I was in a good mood and thought, ‘Oh, what the heck, might as well! I’ve got nothing to lose.’ ”

She crafted a story entitled “The Bottom of a Swimming Pool,” a descriptive reflection on overcoming shyness. Three months later, Annie discovered that her piece had been selected as one of the top seven winning narratives out of 9,000 entries.

She was stunned. “After hitting the submit button, I distinctly remember reading back over my story and thinking, This is never going to win. I was crazy to submit this. Better luck next year,” Annie says. “When I checked The New York Times contest results, I scrolled down the list of stories and something caught my eye - ‘The Bottom of a Swimming Pool by Annie Johnson.’ I had to reread it three or four times to make sure it wasn't just my eyes playing tricks on me!”

The Impact of Power of the Pen

According to The New York Times, the winning pieces were selected for their superb storytelling, moving messages and artistic use of language. Writers were given a 600-word limit.

Annie wrote her winning narrative in about 30 minutes, and she credits Power of the Pen with teaching her how to make the strongest emotional impact in the fewest number of words. At Power of the Pen tournaments, writers are given a prompt at the beginning of each round, and they have just 40 minutes to create a compelling original story.

“Power of the Pen showed me that sometimes the smallest moments can make the greatest impact,” Annie says. “A feeling, a moment, an object, even a pool can tell a great story, especially when you're working within a word limit or time constraints.”

Annie participated in Power of the Pen as a student at John Sells Middle School in Dublin, Ohio, under the leadership of writing coaches Rachel Polacek and Melissa Voss. As a Power of the Pen writer, she was published in the 2019 Book of Winners and received the 2020 Powerful Pen Award. Currently a sophomore at Dublin Coffman High School, she plans to continue writing even as she pursues a career in psychiatry.

The Power of Observation

Her advice to Power of the Pen participants is to never stop writing – not necessarily literally on paper, but in their minds.

“If you're sitting on a bus or standing in line with nothing to do, think to yourself, How would I describe this setting in my writing?” she says. “If you're feeling a strong emotion, focus on how it makes you feel and how you could put those feelings into words. If you go somewhere different, or even somewhere familiar, pay attention to what you're seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, or tasting.

“Keep these words in the back of your head or in the margins of your notebook, and it will help out your writing so much more in the long run.”

PoP Alum and Author Justin A. Reynolds Advises Solon Team to Make Emotional Connections

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 17:42:20 GMT

No matter what you are writing, if it is high quality and makes an emotional connection, the work will find an audience, author and Power of the Pen alum Justin A. Reynolds told the Solon Middle School Power of the Pen team at its December 14, 2020, meeting. He says that the most effective authors explore questions about life’s meaning: “Why are we here? What are we doing? What is the best way to live?”

Justin stopped in for a Zoom chat at the invitation of Solon coach Emilie Macek, who is also a former Power of the Pen writer. Emilie and Justin connected after the virtual National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) annual conference in November 2020. In one of his panel discussions at the conference, Justin talked about the influence of Power of the Pen on his writing. Emilie reached out over Instagram, and Justin was thrilled to meet the Solon team.

Connecting With Other Writers

“Power of the Pen has a special place in my heart,” Justin said. As a member of the Elyria Westwood Middle School team, Justin loved the camaraderie, sense of fun, and serious competition in Power of the Pen. His two stints at the state tournament, which was then held at Denison University, were his first trips away from family and a chance to meet other young authors from throughout the state.

The lessons of Power of Pen have stayed with him, particularly the practice of writing a complete story in just 40 minutes. “Learning to write, problem solve, think critically – Power of the Pen exemplifies all of that,” he told the Solon team. “You have to process information quickly and dispense it on the page in a short time.” Such skills prove invaluable in any field.

Pursuing a Writing Career

Justin didn’t go straight from Power of the Pen into his writing career. He started out as an engineering undergraduate and NASA intern, but ultimately decided to follow his passion for writing. He changed majors and colleges and moved to New York City to “chase writers” that he wanted to learn from. A series of jobs from pest control operator to carpet flooring installer followed, as he continued to develop his craft.

A Twitter contest led to the publication of his first novel, Opposite of Always. He has since published a second novel, Early Departures, with new projects including a graphic novel, middle grade series, and screenplays on the way. Twelve- to thirteen-hour writing days are typical.

Trusting Your Own Voice

His best advice to young authors is to trust their own voice and not try to emulate someone else. “Your voice is unique, special, necessary, and urgent,” he said. “We will all write a different story even if we live the same circumstances at the same time. No one can tell a story like you do.”

Learn more about Justin and his writing at https://www.justinareynolds.com/.

In Memory of Lorraine B. Merrill

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:10:45 GMT

It is with deep sadness that we announce that our founder, Lorraine B. Merrill, passed away November 22, 2020. When it came to writing, Lorraine possessed a natural talent propelled by a driving passion. It was this, coupled with her love of teaching, that led to the creation of Power of the Pen, a program that has impacted hundreds of thousands of young writers for over 30 years. We extend our condolences to the family and will miss Lorraine deeply.

An endowment fund has been established in memory of Frank and Lorraine Merrill to support young writers participating in Power of the Pen. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Power of the Pen Founders’ Award at the Springfield Foundation at 333 N Limestone Street, Suite 201, Springfield, Ohio 45503.

Writing Builds Confidence! Author and Coach Amy Merrill-Wyatt: Student Writers Grow With Each Prompt

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:32:24 GMT

Support Power of the Pen’s young writers on Giving Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at powerofthepen.org/Donate or GoFundMe. Share the GoFundMe page with friends and family!

Springfield Middle School Coach Amy Merrill-Wyatt, author of Ernestine, Catastrophe Queen, describes what mentoring young writers:

Watching my students grow over the course of each tournament year is one of the biggest rewards of coaching Power of the Pen.

Students always begin each year tentatively - you can practically see the doubts hovering over their heads. "Am I a good writer?" "What if I'm not a good writer?" "What if I can't ever learn to be a good writer?" "Should I just give up now?"

They turn their notebooks in shyly, afraid to meet my eye as they hand their stories to me. As they do, I know they might as well be handing me their self-confidence because no artist can ever truly, completely untangle themselves from the art they create. And so, I take those notebooks knowing that I have a sacred responsibility to those students; to help them find what they're doing well and give them a plan for how to get even better.

Coaches Are Students’ Lights in the Darkness

As coaches, we are students' lights in the darkness. It's our duty to guide them towards the best writing they are capable of doing. Encouraging them to take that next step by helping them to see how far they've already come. We can neither be too hard on our writers nor fill them with false praise.

"You've identified a thrilling idea for a story, and I wanted to find out what happened next!" is a frequent comment of mine early on in the year, followed up by, "In your next story, I'd love to see more details and descriptive language so I can feel like I'm really in the story." Reading story after story, watching my writers do just that, I glow with pride as I see them grow, becoming stronger, more confident writers with each prompt.

Power of the Pen Nurtures Empathy

Not all Power of the Pen writers will go on to write professionally someday, but all learn how to wield the power of words. How to engage in an experience and express it to someone else. To help the reader experience what it's like to be someone else, if only for a little while. In this way, Power of the Pen helps to create more empathetic adults, people who know how to reach out to another person and say, "I can imagine what you're going through."

All of those doubts my students have early on are ultimately about wondering if they are 'good enough' in every way. Power of the Pen helps young writers understand, "Yes, I am - and you are too. And together, we will continue to grow and get stronger."

Writing Builds a Foundation for Success: Annie Morino

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 16:28:16 GMT

Support Power of the Pen’s young writers on Giving Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at powerofthepen.org/Donate or GoFundMe. Share the GoFundMe page with friends and family!

Annie Morino describes the impact of Power of the Pen on her life:

Power of the Pen is an important part of who I am as a professional today and who I was as a student from 7th grade on. I had always loved writing growing up, but I didn’t know I was talented until I was picked for the Power of the Pen team in 7th grade. Middle school is a tough place to be for any kid, but when that prompt would go up, all of my other worries would fall away. Writing a story made me feel smart and creative, and our practices just made me feel like I was where I belonged.

Not knowing how I would do in a tournament, before we started, I promised myself that I would always go to the Power of the Pen practices for as long as I could, even if I wasn’t successful in the actual competitions. I was dedicated to the writing. In my first competition, I wrote a totally fictional story to the prompt, “In the middle,” about a student whose parents were going through a divorce. I left the competition without ribbons and without particularly outstanding scores.

A Mysterious Summons From the Counselor’s Office

About a week later, I was mysteriously called to the counselor’s office, who also happened to be my Power of the Pen coach. I panicked walking down the halls thinking I had invited some kind of intervention. There was nothing wrong at home at all. My coaches were all in the room when I arrived and they laughed as I tried to explain myself. They weren’t concerned at all. It turned out I had won a Best of Round! That story went on to win a Best of Best award, giving me an opportunity to compete at States. It was an all-around incredible experience. I didn’t place at States, but I was determined to go back the next year.

After a difficult start in 8th grade, I made it onto the team for districts, but did not make it to the Regional Power of the Pen competition. It was devastating, but I remembered the promise I had made from the start. As painful as it was to know I wouldn’t be attending any more competitions, I continued to attend practices even as others dropped off. I just loved writing, and Power of the Pen gave me the confidence to keep my head held high, even as school drama raged around me.

A Communications Career

I continued to pursue writing and communication through high school and college, securing a job as a communication strategist at a political consulting firm for five years. Now I am the Business Development Manager for a construction company, and I happily write our pitches and proposals for new projects. I also lead our marketing and research efforts.

Power of the Pen was the foundation for all of it. Better grammar and communication theory, political strategy and research layered on top of the confidence I had built. I could write a complete story from scratch, out of the blue, in 40 minutes, no matter how difficult the prompt. No essay or assignment was insurmountable after that. While I always wished I could have continued to compete in the eighth grade, not making the cut and pursuing writing anyway was so important to my development. I would encourage any student today to do the same. Power of the Pen is a totally unique experience you’ll never get the chance to repeat. My advice is to soak up as much of that world as you can. You won’t regret it.

– Annie Morino, Power of the Pen Class of 2003-2005

Coaches Practice Writing Strategies at Kernels of Wisdom Workshop

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:40:26 GMT

Power of the Pen coaches and K-12 teachers from throughout Ohio gathered virtually on Saturday morning, November 7, for the third annual Kernels of Wisdom narrative writing workshop presented by the National Writing Project at Kent State University (NWP-KSU) and Power of the Pen.

A core belief of the National Writing Project is that writing teachers should be writers themselves, learning alongside their students as they hone their craft together. Keynote speaker Jean Kanzinger of Chagrin Falls High School began the morning with a prompt for workshop participants to write their own key scene. Their responses to the prompt provided a foundation for Jean’s presentation on story structure and the ways we can think through story plots to create the most compelling prose. Jean used examples from Power of the Pen’s annual Book of Winners to show how 7th and 8th grade writers’ works can be used as mentor texts to teach the writing techniques she shared.

Jeff Harr of Kent Roosevelt High School described strategies for beginnings and endings. He demonstrated the strategies by writing various hooks and conclusions for a single story, illustrating how different techniques affect the story’s emotional impact.

Katie Kerns of Norwayne Middle School discussed how to help students expand important descriptions in their writing. Three ideas include collecting impactful sentences from other writers, using a toilet paper tube to describe only what students can see through the tube, and using Bitmojis to teach character description.

Power of the Pen Executive Director Barb Tschantz wrapped up the morning with a judge training session.

Coaches who attended the workshop said they can’t wait to bring these strategies to their students. Disa Banker of Ann Simpson Davis Middle School, who tweeted these photos of herself and her notes from the workshop, said, “Start with the conflict! Duh!!! Why didn’t I think of that... great ideas about hooks and conclusions for our POP writers. I’m so excited to share this with our team on Thursday!”

Powerful Together: Dr. Henry Karrer Middle School Builds on Award-Winning Season

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 15:47:53 GMT

Nearly a decade into guiding Power of the Pen writers, Ms. Jennifer Wolf of Dr. Henry Karrer Middle School looks forward to every new season with her writers and her co-coach, Mrs. Melissa Eddington.

The Karrer team had a fabulous 2019-2020 season, taking 3rd place in the 7th grade and 2nd place in the 8th grade at the Circleville district tournament before capturing 2nd place overall at the Otterbein regional. The season was capped off by 8th grader Anna Blasinski’s first place finish in the statewide poetry competition for her wistful reflection on how life changes as we grow up.

Ms. Wolf says that students’ favorite part of Power of the Pen meetings is when writers have the opportunity to share their work and get feedback from other writers. “We all relish the unique talents of our teammates while we get inspired to take new risks in our own writing,” Ms. Wolf says. “Students are looking forward to getting back into the routine of honing their craft while building friendships and camaraderie that bloom throughout the writing season.”

Middle School Students Share Why They Love Power of the Pen

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 17:48:57 GMT

Power of the Pen participants from throughout Ohio say that being a part of a creative writing club has inspired creativity, improved their writing skills, provided a place to belong, and built their confidence! Over the summer, students submitted videos about their experiences. Mike Fejes, Power of the Pen board member and coach from Hudson Middle School, compiled their remarks into a video that can be shared at schools. Watch the video to find out why Power of the Pen means so much to these students!

Biomedical Engineering: Designing Solutions With Confidence and Creativity

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 17:44:26 GMT

Power of the Pen alum Alexis Moore develops innovative solutions for sports medicine as a biomedical engineer with Stryker, a global medical technology company that provides products and services for orthopedics, medical and surgical settings, and neurotechnology.

Biomedical engineers design equipment and devices that improve medical care and patients’ health. Much of what you see in a doctor’s office, from the examination table to the stethoscope, was designed by a biomedical engineer. And if you’ve known anyone who has had a knee replacement or an artificial heart valve, these life-changing devices began with a biomedical engineer’s research and design project.

Developing Confidence and Communication Skills

Alexis credits her writing team at Hamilton Middle School for giving her a place to belong and explore what she could accomplish. In fact, Alexis sacrificed the annual class trip in favor of the Power of the Pen state tournament, which was taking place at the same time. “There was no hesitation on which to choose,” Alexis says. “The class trip was practically a rite of passage, but that’s how important Power of the Pen was to us!”

Power of the Pen helped Alexis build the confidence and communication abilities needed for a successful engineering career. “Power of the Pen taught me how to harness my own power to write my own life story. Cheesy, but true!” she says. “I am a stronger person, engineer, and advocate because of the program. The language skills and attention to detail learned throughout the program have stuck with me.”

Kiwanis Club of Dayton Hosts Power of the Pen

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 17:37:02 GMT

Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Dayton for supporting Power of the Pen! Coach Mindy Hoffer and student writer Sage Spirk of Oakwood Junior High spoke on August 18 to the Kiwanis about the impact of Power of the Pen. Sage was invited to read one of her favorite pieces from the season.

For Erin Blackburn-Smith, Storytelling Skills Provide Competitive Edge in Data Analytics Career

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 13:00:00 GMT

At first glance, data analytics might not seem like a career where story writing skills are critical. But for Power of the Pen alum Erin Blackburn-Smith, analytics manager with Tropical Smoothie Café in Atlanta, Georgia, her ability to weave a strong narrative is integral to success in her career.

Data analytics professionals are tasked with spotting trends to guide decisions, and data sometimes reveals surprises that decision-makers might resist. That’s where the ability to tell stories comes in.

“When I was younger, I thought I wanted to turn my love of writing into a career in journalism,” Erin says. “However, as I got older, I found myself very drawn to research and data analytics, and ended up making my career in Marketing Analytics in the restaurant industry …

“A huge part of my job is storytelling. When I am doing analysis, I am using the data to craft a narrative, and then I must communicate the narrative clearly and convincingly. The most effective analytics presentations lead the audience to come to your conclusion on their own, before you reveal what your conclusion is. There is no way I would be able to do that without a strong background in storytelling.”

Overcoming Perfectionism

Erin was a member of the team at Arts Impact Middle School (AIMS) in Columbus City Schools. She credits Power of the Pen with nurturing her love for writing. The extemporaneous nature of Power of the Pen tournaments, with their 40-minute writing rounds, helped Erin overcome a perfectionist streak that was holding her back.

“When I was in competition, I didn't have time to meticulously plan and revise,” she says. “I also couldn't scrap something and give up halfway through if I ran into any obstacles. This was really instrumental for me in order to feel free creatively and to welcome feedback from others - not just in writing, but in any creative or intellectual pursuit.”

Belonging to a Community of Writers

Also crucial in middle school was the sense of community and belonging. “I've always been terrible at sports, so it was great to have an opportunity to actually compete and be on a team,” Erin says. “I made friends with kids that I wouldn't have been friends with otherwise.”

PoP Alum Victoria Kerr Gives Back by Coaching a Team

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:00:00 GMT

Victoria Kerr participated in Power of the Pen as a student at the former Taft Middle School in Stark County and now coaches at Jackson Memorial Middle School.

Jackson's 8th graders placed first in the 2020 Power of the Pen Eastern Region tournament, and the 7th and 8th grades together placed third overall. Eighth grader Zoe Brewster earned district Best of the Best for a story entitled "Lonely."

Victoria says she loves working with her team, pictured below: "I get so much satisfaction of seeing the progress that my students make from the beginning of the year through the tournament season. It is always fun to see where their creativity leads them."

Student Authors Published in 2019 Book of Winners

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 15:36:19 GMT

The 2019 Book of Winners is now available for purchase on the Power of the Pen website.

Featuring Best of the Best winners from the 2018-2019 season, the book showcases more than 100 models of exemplary student writing. With themes exploring relationships, loss, and moments of joy, it is also a compelling read!

Power of the Pen sends one free copy of the 2019 Book of Winners to each team who registers for the 2020-2021 season, beginning September 1, after we receive payment for their registration.

Power of the Pen Student Writing Featured on YouTube

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 16:00:00 GMT

Power of the Pen Best of the Best winners were invited to read aloud their creative writing for YouTube. Students created their own videos and chose their own unique style of presenting their work. Visit Power of the Pen's YouTube channel to hear these award-winning stories in the authors' voices.

PoP Alum Jasmine Warga Wins Newbery Honor for Other Words for Home

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:00:00 GMT

Jasmine Warga, an alum of the Power of the Pen team at Wyoming Middle School, received a 2020 Newbery Honor for her third book, Other Words for Home. A novel in verse, Other Words for Home tells the story of a young girl who must move from her home in Syria to Cincinnati, Ohio. In the author's note for the novel, Jasmine says that one of the reasons she wrote this book is to help readers understand that children fleeing from war zones "want the same things all of us do - love, understanding, safety, a chance at happiness."

Jessica P. Wick, who reviewed the book for NPR, highly recommends it as a relatable and vital read for middle grade students: “There are so many reasons to read this novel. It’s a book about kindness, for one; it sings, for another, as any good verse novel should . . . It feels true. It feels like middle school and wanting things the way you do in middle school. It feels like being in the middle of so many things and not quite knowing how to navigate that uncertainty.”

Jasmine is also the author of My Heart and Other Black Holes and Here We Are Now. Her fourth book, The Shape of Thunder, is coming out in spring 2021.

Power of the Pen Presents State Awards

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 23:00:00 GMT

Author Margaret Peterson Haddix, poet George Bilgere, and Power of the Pen alum and television writer Sage Boggs honored Power of the Pen writers for our annual state awards ceremony, held virtually due to the pandemic.

Of the thousands of middle school students who write with Power of the Pen each year, the winners of the state awards have achieved an extraordinary level of excellence. Power of the Pen annually awards State honors to young authors whose writing stands out for its powerful connection with readers.

Read the creative works of these 2020 state winners by clicking the links:

Paige Galperin, Kimpton Middle School, Promising Young Talent Award

Sun-Hee Smith, St. Bernadette School, Humor Award

Annie Johnson, John Sells Middle School, and Marie Kanzinger, Chagrin Falls Middle School, Powerful Pen Award

Poetry Award Winners are:

Anna Blasinski, Dr. Henry Karrer Middle School, First Place

Zoe Stiefel, Shaker Heights Middle School, Second Place

Allison Krzywicki, North Royalton Middle School, Honorable Mention

Audra Lozina, Hudson Middle School, Honorable Mention

PoP Alums Cambray Smith and Erin Engelhardt: Lifelong Friends

Thu, 21 May 2020 22:00:00 GMT

Best friends since their days on the Power of the Pen team at Wyoming Middle School, Cambray Smith and Erin Engelhardt moved far apart after high school - Cambray to college in North Carolina, Erin to Minnesota.

But they didn’t let distance disrupt their relationship. “Writing has been such a huge part of our friendship,” Cambray says. “We used to journal together, still regularly write each other notes and letters, and encourage each other to read and reflect all the time.”

After her 2018 college graduation, Cambray accepted an offer for a biomedical ethics research position in Minnesota, allowing the friends to reunite. For two years, they have explored their adopted state and celebrated being a part of each others’ lives again.

Erin is a first-grade teacher in Saint Paul, where 90 percent of her students are new to the English language. “I love teaching the foundational grades because it is when reading and writing come to life in young minds,” she says.

Cambray has been conducting research that explores ethical questions related to medicine and science. “My current job consists of reading, asking questions, thinking, and writing, which is a perfect match for a Power of the Pen alum,” Cambray notes.

In summer 2020, Cambray moved away again to join an M.D.-Ph.D. program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is focused on public health. Cambray and Erin plan to remain close, and both look back fondly on their Power of the Pen experiences.

Erin credits Power of the Pen with giving her a place to belong. “Finding a community that affirmed who I was and cultivated something I loved was a gamechanger for me,” she says. Cambray will take the lessons learned in Power of the Pen into the medical field. “By learning how to find my voice and communicate with others through narrative and fiction, I emerged with the ability to more empathetically engage with others,” Cambray says. “Over time, I’ve realized that each person’s story is as powerful to them as my own lived experiences ... This perspective will be especially important for me to remember when interacting with my future patients, who I aim to always treat with dignity, compassion, and respect.”