By: Tristen Tetlow-Ames and Anna Lee

The Young Authors Contest is an annual writing contest for students in second through twelfth grade starting September 16th to March 29th. All competing students work hard on their poem or short story to succeed in the battle of the pen.

The contest starts off at the school level, where teachers send contestants’ entries to Young Authors’ Contest chairperson by January 9th. County level is next; the contest chairperson sends Microsoft Word File and Cover Sheet to state chairperson. Finishing at state level, on March 29th, state contestants go to SoMirac, which is a  reception for state winners.

Oakdale does well in the Young Authors Contest.“Oakdale ends up at county’s and state’s each year,” Ms. Carrie Mehl stated, one of the teachers who helps with judging at school level.

This year all three of the school and county winners entered into the state level. Tenth grader Alyson Flora, with the short story called “In the Gardens”, won. As well as the four time county winner Mary Katherine Meyers, a senior with her poem titled, “Monster.” Ninth grader Brendan Hylton, with the short story called “The Cone of the Brain and it’s Music,” also won at the state level. The three get to read their pieces at the SoMIRAC conference on March 29th.

At each level, the contestants read their piece in front of families and friends. When the contestants read their writing pieces, they do so with such emotion, it is a spectacular event. “It’s nice to hear their words, such beautiful words,” Ms. Amy Murdock stated with a huge smile on her face.

Meyers said, “I hope my poem will reach out to people.”

That is what these fantastic writers do – they express their emotions and pour their hearts into their words.

Here at Oakdale we send our best onto the front lines, ready for a battle, of the spoken word.