Three WHS Students Receive Scholastic Writing Awards from NH Council of Teachers of English

HAMPTON – Superintendent Meredith Nadeau and Principal William McGowan are pleased to share that three Winnacunnet High School students have received Scholastic Writing Awards from the New Hampshire Council of Teachers of English (NHCTE). 

Students received a certificate for their achievements from NHCTE on March 29.

• Senior Nicole Sherepera received a Gold Key in Flash Fiction for her piece titled, "Silas & the Wild West." The piece follows a man named Silas who, through his connection to his violin, reminisces about his abandoned town, which creeks in harmony with his music.  
• Senior Madison Mathews received a Silver Key for her portfolio titled "Guide to Girlhood," which includes short stories, personal essays, and poems depicting a collection of events that a person might inevitably face while navigating the world as a female.
• Junior Madelyn Willwerth received an Honorable Mention for her flash fiction piece titled "The Cycle." The piece is about the circle of life as told from the perspective of a stone and the raw emotion the rock sees and feels through interactions with passersby. 

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers awards students in Grades 7-12 across the United States and Canada for their art and writing skills in more than 28 categories. Some categories include portfolios, fiction writing, essays, and more. The competition received more than 300,000 submissions from over 100,000 teens.

“This award is a great honor for our students and an acknowledgment of our students' abilities, hard work, and dedication,” said Kate McKenney, who teaches English and serves as Literary Magazine Advisor.

McKenney believes that writing can take many forms and the authenticity and emotion that came through the students' pieces does not go unnoticed, and is proud of them for receiving these accomplishments.

“These awards are no small feat, and our students should take immense pride in their efforts through this process,” said Principal McGowen. “This is a wonderful experience for our students to go through. The sky is the limit for what they can accomplish, and these students prove that every day.” 

For more information about the NHCTE and the Scholastic Writing Awards, click here.