40th Annual High School Writing Contest
We wish to thank everyone for all the wonderful entries we received for this year’s contest. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are sorry to announce that the judging for this year’s contest will be delayed.
The judging will resume when we are able to safely return to campus and our normal schedules. The winners will be announced at that time.
Thank you for understanding. Stay healthy and stay safe!
Categories
Essay: Write a personal essay, labeled ESSAY, on a topic of your choice of no more than five double-spaced, typed pages.
Fiction: Write a short story, labeled FICTION, of no more than five double-spaced, typed pages.
Poetry: Write a poem of no more than 50 lines.
Entries must be mailed in postmarked no later than December 20, 2019.
39th Annual High School Writing Contest Winners
Poetry
- 1st Place
- “You Don’t Taste the Brokenness” by Maya Miller, Polytechnic School, Pasadena, CA, Ms. Marion, 10th grade
- 2nd Place
- “We Meet Again, Beethoven” by Nathan Phuong, Homestead High School, Fort Wayne, IN, Dr. David Price, 11th grade
- 3rd Place (tie)
- “Happy Half Birthday” by Taylor Bechtel, Northern Highlands Regional High School, Allendale, NJ, Ms. Svea Barrett, 12th Grade
- “Dear Society” by Maelle Rosser, Montclair High School, Montclair, NJ, Ms. Corporan, 11th Grade
- Honorable Mentions
- “China Girl, China Town” by Marlena Manubag, Livingston High School, Livingston, NJ, Mrs. Susan Rothbard , 9th grade
- “Shrimp Hate Them” by Erika Kluge, Northern Highlands Regional High School, Allendale, NJ, Ms. Svea Barrett, 11th Grade
- “August in Mulund” by Shaam Beed, Livingston High School, Livingston, NJ, Mrs. Susan Rothbard, 12th Grade
- “It’s Hunting Season” by Grace Morrissey, Northern Highlands Regional High School, Allendale, NJ, Ms. Svea Barrett 12th Grade
- “interview (at the women’s shelter)” by Jessie Lin, Princeton Day School, Princeton, NJ, Mr. Thomas Quigley, 10th grade
- “August Elegy” by Jonathan Chen, Livingston High School, Livingston, NJ, Mrs. Susan Rothbard, 12th grade
- “Grandfather in Minor Key” by Jeffrey Liao, Livingston High School, Livingston, NJ, Mrs. Susan Rothbard, 11th grade
Essay
- 1st Place (tie)
- “My Imperfect Legacy” by Melanie Nolan, Pennsbury High School, Fairless Hills, PA, Ms. Maryann Daley, 12th grade
- “The Autopsy” by Raven Horan, West Catholic Prep High School, Philadelphia, PA, Str. Ave Armstrong, 12th grade
- 2nd Place
- “Elevation” by Athira Sivadas, The Tatnall School, Wilmington, DE, Mrs. Carroll, 12th grade
- 3rd Place
- “Things I Could Tell You About My Mother” by Jonathan Chen, Livingston High School, Livingston, NJ, Mrs. Susan Rothbard, 12th grade
- Honorable Mention
- “A Mirror in Romania” by Dana Serea, Rutherford High School, Rutherford, NJ, Ms. Melissa Dougard, 9th grade
Fiction
- 1st Place
- “Only Us” by Hye In Lee, Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ, Mr. Richard Weems, 11th grade
- 2nd Place
- “Waterproof Mascara” by Hannah Ahn, Tappan Zee High School, Orangeburg, NY, Ms. Lauren Calcaterra, 11th Grade
- 3rd Place
- “Bittersweet Kheer” by Aditi Desai, , Livingston High School, Livingston, NJ, Mrs. Susan Rothbard, 11th Grade
- Honorable Mentions
- “Caroline” by Charis Shin, Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ, Mr. Richard Weems, 12th Grade
- “To Catch a Falling Star” by Vanessa Silva, Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ, Mr. Richard Weems, 12th Grade
- “A Knife, a Shovel, and an Ex-Girlfriend Go to the Grocery Store” by Taylor Bechtel, Northern Highlands Regional High School, Allendale, NJ, Ms. Svea Barrett, 12th Grade
- “Late Parents” by Anthony Burger, Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ, Mr. Richard Weems, 11th grade
- “Safe” by Analisa Faulkner, Montclair High School, Montclair, NJ, Jamie Siwinski, 9th Grade
- “Valeria” by Peren Teshyurt, Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ, Mr. Richard Weems, 12th grade
- “Grace” by Katherine Nikolau, Cherokee High School, Marlton, NJ, Mrs. Pulverenti, 10th grade