Junior recognized in statewide writing contest
By Lavi Ben-Dor, Convergence Editor
Junior Jenna Spoont was recently recognized as a finalist in the 2012 Pennsylvania State University High School Writing Contest. At an award ceremony on April 20, she and 16 other juniors from across the state were recognized as finalists in the contest, and three students received first, second and third place.
In November, sixteen juniors stayed after school one day and had one hour to write an essay about the significance of flash mobs and their use of social media. English teachers selected the essays of Spoont, Neha Nataraj and Grace Severance for submission to the contest, as each school is only allowed to enter three students. However, Spoont’s was the only one awarded by Penn State.
Spoont receives her award at the ceremony on April 20. Spoont and nineteen other juniors received an award. Susan Houseman for The SPOKE
“I really enjoy writing [and] I felt this was up my alley–writing under pressure is something I’m really good at, and I like participating in different contests so I can get my name out there,” Spoont said. “I really felt honored and lucky, and I’m really happy that Penn State recognized my talents; I hope to do other contests like this in the future.”
Spoont said that one of the most memorable parts of the award ceremony was getting to meet the other winners, who she said are just as inspired by writing as she is.
“It was nice to meet the other finalists. It was nice to be in a community of writers like myself who are passionate about what they do,” she said.
According to Spoont, writing inspires her because it allows her to voice her emotions and show who she is as a person.
“I have always enjoyed writing because it is a good way to express yourself on paper–you can express it through words where you can’t by saying [it] or [through] artwork,” Spoont said.
Lavi Ben-Dor can be reached at lbendor@stoganews.com.
Click here to read about last year’s contest, in which all three Conestoga competitors won an award.
