Pierce students earn Gold Key awards

Pierce Middle School has had 6 students win 7 regional level Gold Key Awards from The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for their personal essay/memoirs and we have had one student (CJ Ryder) win the prestigious national Gold Award which places her writing into the top 1% of the 100,000 nationally submitted works! The regional Gold Key winners were reviewed by literary art professionals in early March. Notable past jurors for these awards have included: Robert Frost, Judy Blume, George Plimpton, Faith Ringgold and Billy Collins. These panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical proficiency and emergence of an authentic voice and vision.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program is celebrating its 85th year and its premise is that young people who demonstrate creativity and originality have the potential to make important contributions to the future and should be identified, encouraged and rewarded.

Pierce 8th grader CJ R. joins a prestigious group of alumni of this award including Richard Avedon, Mel Bochner, Truman Capote, Bernard Malamund, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Otterness, Zac Posen, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford, and Andy Warhol.

CJ, her family and I have been invited to the National Awards Ceremony at Carnegie Hall and The Scholastic National Exhibition in New York City, June 4-6th. This will be an opportunity to have CJ, Pierce, and the Grosse Pointe Public Schools recognized on a national level.

The award winners from Pierce are:
Ellen A. Final Farewell Gold Key
Ted B. My Mouth is in Jail Gold Key
Shining Moments Gold Key
Nick R. Spray Painting the Basement Wall Gold Key
CJ R. A Life Cut Short Gold Key AND Gold Award ***
Abby S. Lynnie Gold Key
Nathan T. Spectacular Ski Vacation Gold Key

More information on the awards and contest can be found at www.artandwriting.org. Please join me in congratulating these students on this remarkable achievement.

Submitted by Susan Quinn, 8th Grade English, Pierce Middle School, April 8, 2008