Congratulations to the four Oak Farm Montessori High School (OFMHS) students who were recently recognized for their art and writing submissions to the Scholastic Art & Writing competition for Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio. This competition allows students to submit in both art and writing categories to receive regional and, potentially national recognition.
Sophomore, Sullivan McCreery, created his art piece, American Refuse, as a play on words."The word 'refuse' means “ to indicate or show that one is not willing to do something. The word 'refuse' refers to garbage. I am not, however, just trying to criticise how things are in modern ages. but more so in an understanding that I am a part of the problem just as much as anyone else." Sully shared. He was one of 400 of the almost 1700 contributors who won an honorable mention, gold, or silver key.
Three OFMHS students also received awards in the writing category. Junior, Isaiah (Ben) Baughman, submitted a flash fiction entitled Moonlit Memories that earned him an honorable mention. Ben shared that while originally he had intended it to reflect only romantic overtures, the loss of a good friend recently became interwoven as well. "I wanted to make sure it provided the reader with various ways to interpret my personal story."
Adeline Fitzharris, a senior, wrote a dystopian short story, What Earth Used to be Like, that describes a future world where Earth has long been abandoned and speaking of the past is forbidden. She shared that writing the beginning and the end comes easily for her; it's the middle that is a struggle. This vivacious and outgoing future marine biologist was surprised when she found out she had won Honorable Mention. "This was my first time submitting, and when I got the text from my teacher I was completely surprised!"
Grayson Pettit used his own health concerns and battle with anxiety to write his personal essay and memoir submission titled, I Breathed. While this quiet and reflective Junior shares that he struggles with being vulnerable, his writing tells another story. Descriptive narratives that tug and pull at the reader collide with eloquent word play and symbolism throughout. "I recently discovered meditation, and is has allowed me to see the colors of my emotions." Grayson shared. This Gold Key winner is thankful to his teacher, Amy Norton, and Creative Writing classmates who guided and motivated him.
Be sure to visit the Fort Wayne Museum of Art from February 10th through April 7th to see all of the regional Scholastic Art and Writing award winners.
