Idaho high schoolers tops in annual Outdoor Writing Contest
Three finalists advance to national competition
A story by Brook Tingey, a junior at Lakeland High School in Rathdrum, has been judged the best of 299 entries to win The Spokesman-Review’s 2010 Outdoor Writing Contest for high school students.
In “Wild goose chase,” Tingey explains that perfection isn’t required for a memorable father-daughter waterfowl hunt.
Contest runners-up are:
• “What could have Ben,” by Karter Krasselt, a sophomore at Moscow High School, follows a teenage bully through a life-changing death experience.
• “Together as one,” by Briana McCall, also a sophomore from Moscow, puts readers on a saddle with a teen as she rides her mustang through a cross-country jumping event.
Tingey will receive $75 for first place. Each of the runners-up will get $40. The three finalists will be entered in the Outdoor Writers Association of America National Scholastic Writing Contest, which is open to any outdoor writing published in 2010 by junior high or high school students.
National winners, who can earn up to $200, will be announced next spring.
In 24 years, 39 finalists from The Spokesman-Review contest have gone on to win national awards.
Other students who made the final round of judging this year include: Alexsandra Logan of Gonzaga Prep; Emily Stephens of Mt. Spokane; Jordan Helgesen and Rachel Teo of Mead; Kyle Hansen of West Valley; Lexxie Womack of University; Mikaela Hannon, Antoine Perriguey-Krings, Cooper Trail, Elizabeth Wray, Olivia Frederiksen, Shelby Gomez and Julianne Renner of Moscow; Brooke Sausser of Post Falls; Kelsi Andersen and Terri Glenn of Lakeland; Sydney Brock and Lauren McKinley of Cheney, and home-schooler Mikayla Rahn.
This year’s entries were judged by newspaper Outdoors editor Rich Landers. The winning entries once again have been illustrated on this page by Spokane Valley artist Dale Hamilton, a graduate of Central Valley High School.
For the record, no entries were received this year from students at former contest powerhouse Lewis and Clark High School.
The newspaper contest is announced in the fall.