LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Youth Ink ceremony 2018


The winners as a group. Photo Cheri Larsh Arellano

The Orinda Junior Women's Club, which organizes Youth Ink, an annual creative writing contest open to all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students who live in or attend school in Orinda, sponsored by the Orinda Community Foundation, Friends of the Orinda Library and the Lamorinda Arts Council, held its awards ceremony April 19 at the Orinda Library Auditorium. The Youth Ink 2018 prompt, "My World," was chosen because it encompasses almost limitless potential for subject matter, thereby encouraging young writers to personalize their pieces. Entrants were encouraged to write about anything they liked: real or imaginary, but did not have to adhere to the prompt.

Katie Walsh, president of OJWC gave the welcome speech and presented the awards, Elizabeth Perlman, founder and executive director of The Intuitive Writing Project, was the guest speaker, and Lin Look spoke on behalf of the Orinda Library. Winners and honorable mentions received certificates and their prizes, and got the opportunity to read their pieces in front of the audience.

Winners and honorable mentions:

Winners

First Prize, $250:

Malayna Chang, OIS, Run My Life

Second Prize, $125:

Kate Laudy, Athenian School, Eleven

Third Prizes, jointly awarded, $75:

Jarret Zundel, OIS, Waterfall; Zoey Patterson, Athenian School, Cartographer

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)

Gift Certificates from Orinda Books:

Eloise Anagnost The Silent Angels

Mia Balonick My World Disturbed

Nick Blair Goodbye

Devon Bradley Yusra Mardini's Choice

Kaylin Chang The World of a Rock

Lukas Hendriks My Sugar Bowl World

Olivia Huynh Clementine Grace

Kiara Kofoed The Man with the Black Cape

Astrid Olsson Sunday Morning

Jade Peng A New Land of Oz

Judges:

John Inouye, Cynthia Leslie-Bole, Scott Ostler, Elizabeth Perlman, Chrissa Ventrelle