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Young Authors League
Debra Gano is the Director for the Young Authors League (YAL) and the President of the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation (ELF), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring school-age children to read and write. This past year, YAL organized a Student Short Story Writing Competition titled, “Making the World a Better Place,” in [...]
Friday April 9 2010
Debra Gano is the Director for the Young Authors League (YAL) and the President of the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation (ELF), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring school-age children to read and write.
This past year, YAL organized a Student Short Story Writing Competition titled, “Making the World a Better Place,” in which fourth and fifth grade students of the Cherry Creek School District in the Denver area were invited to submit a short story or artwork expressing this inspiring theme.
It is with great pleasure that we announce the publication of the Young Authors League book, Making the World a Better Place: Student Stories about Making a Difference!
Several activities were planned for the release of the YAL book and recognition of its wonderful contributors, and any additional events & activites will be posted here.
We had a fantastic room-packed recognition ceremony and dinner on Friday, March 26, in conjunction with the annual Colorado Independent Publishers Association’s (CIPA) College (www.cipabooks.com).
On Friday, April 2, the Aurora Sentinal newspaper interviewed and photographed YAL students store for a story that appeared Thursday, April 8! To see story, visit http://www.aurorasentinel.com/articles/2010/04/10/news/doc4bbf902b308c5466761804.txt
Our book launch took place on EARTH DAY (how perfect!!), Thursday, April 22, from 4-8 pm at the Southlands Mall Barnes & Noble store, with a formal presentation at 5 PM. YAL authors and artists were there to autograph and it was a great success! (read the PRESS RELEASE)
YAL students also autographed on Friday, May 14, from 5-7 PM at the Barnes & Noble LoneTree/Park Meadows location for another fun event.
Copies of Making the World a Better Place are available for $14.00 at www.cipabooks.com/YAL, along with Barnes & Noble bookstores and on Amazon.
Please know the ALL proceeds from the purchase of this book benefit the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation to allow similar and future programs to continue to build excitement in children for literacy.
Photos from the events will be posted here and my facebook fan page at www.Facebook.com/HeartlightGirls. Be sure to become a fan!
A big Thank You to ALL who entered – your participation in this contest really DID help “make the world a better place!” Keep writing……and students in other school districts, stay tuned – your turn is next!
Please be sure to leave a comment below, love to hear from you!!!
Last summer, YAL finalists, parents, and teachers, were brought together for a writing workshop conducted by Debra Gano, author Penny Holguin, and editor Faye Quam Heimerl. The goal of the workshop was to fine-tune the stories and give writing tips to the students prior to submitting their final entries. “The enthusiasm for writing from these students is amazing…and their passion for the theme is so inspiring!” says Gano, author of the award-winning children’s book series, the Heartlight Girls. “You can’t believe some of the great topics!”
CONGRATULATIONS STORY & ART WINNERS!
Buffalo Trail Elementary School
STORY: Elizabeth Berrington
ART: Lindsay Stolting, Sarah Nicholas, Natalie Schauls, Matison Music, Bailey Mattice, Ashley Dale, Maddie Martinez, Bridget Mann, Elizabeth Berrington, Sonoma Olson, Olivia Pare
Canyon Creek Elementary School
STORY: Emily Eads
ART: Jessica Tan
Challenge School
STORY: Stephanie Bang, Calista Bowen, Tessakiree Garber, Jewell Humphrey
ART: Kathleen Sullivan, Kai Smith
Cimarron Elementary School
STORY: Duaa Qamar
Coyote Hills Elementary School
STORY: Makenzie Hendon, Jessica Kantra, Jaime Paterson
Dry Creek Elementary School
STORY: Avery Blackman, Edwin Bosch, Morgan Jenney, Hailey Natvig, Arianne Pusey, Kayla Rondinelli, Emily Webb, Madison Weber
ART: Hailey Natvig, Kira Kirkendell, Kayla Rondinelli
Heritage Elementary School
STORY & ART: Libby Geraghty
Indian Ridge Elementary School
STORY: Sophie Goodwin
ART: Cole Johnson
Peakview Elementary School
STORY: Jane Higa, Lizzie Hoelscher
Sagebrush Elementary School
STORY: Leah Gibson, Josiah Kim, Alyssa King, Samuel Roces
Sunrise Elementary School
STORY: Raeshonique Luarks
ART: Taylor Pinson
Village East Elementary School
STORY: Helen Lee, Tanzilla Purnota, Gavin Woldu
Please leave a comment below,
we would love to hear from you!
14 Comments
Thanks Debra so much for the outstanding opportunity! I am so glad I got this chance to have my OWN short story publised! Its been a blast working on my story with you! Thanks for your help on becoming a published author!
Sincerely,
Alyssa King:)
Thanks Debra so much for the outstanding opportunity! I am so glad I got this chance to have my OWN short story publised! Its been a blast working on my story with you! Thanks for your help on becoming a published author!
I am so excited that my artwork will be published in a book! Thank you so much! This is such an honor! I go to Sunrise Elementary and am a fifth grader. This is so amazing! I enjoyed you coming to my school also. Thank you so much again!
Thank you so much Debra, my artwork got into the book. I go to Buffalo Trail Elemetary. I am a 5th grader there and cant wait to get my AWARD!!! thanks so much.
Edwin truly enjoyed being a part of this contest. It appears he was one of only a handful of boys that made it to the winners list. I am just so proud of him! Thank you, Debra, and everyone that helped out at the workshop and throughout this contest. It has been a great experience.
Thanks so much for the great workshop, I really learned alot, especially about creating titles that get someone interested in reading your story and adding extra character information.
Thanks
Thank you, Debra, for providing the opportunity for young students to showcase their creative abilities in the Young Authors League contest. This contest was a wonderful chance for my daughter to gain confidence in her writing, her art and herself. She is excited about using the feedback she received to take on future writing assignments with a new enthusiasm and self-assurance and to approach her world knowing that the ability to effect positive change exists within herself.
The workshop was an inspiration for our daughter whose enthusiasm for writing continues to grow. The feedback she received was helpful and she enjoyed applying it to her story. The contest and the workshop were both wonderful experiences our daughter will never forget.
This was a wonderful opportunity for my students to write with a purpose. They still talk about your writing workshop they attended this summer. It was a relevant, meaningful experience to them.
Thank you so much for offering this fantastic opportunity to our daughter! Her enthusiasm for writing has been enhanced by her participation in the program and the workshop was great. We are very grateful for the instruction and support she received.
I want to thank Debra and the Young Authors League for providing a truly valuable writing experience. My daughter’s passion and gift is writing. In my search for ways to encourage her, I have been disappointed by the lack of opportunities that exist for the young writer. Thank you for creating this contest and providing her with a purpose to create.
Thank you Debra for offering this exciting writing opportunity for our Cherry Creek students. My daughter loves to write and draw and having this experience allowed her to move through the many stages of the writing process to produce a piece she’s very proud of.
You were also an inspiration for our Cherry Creek students in the workshop offered this summer. The students felt like writers with a purpose with all of your support and from your colleagues!
Sincerely,
Mary Berrington
Reading Recovery Teacher Leader
Cherry Creek School District
This has been a tremendously rewarding experience for our daughter. She loves writing and the encouragement she has received from Debra and this program has been fantastic. Thanks so much and keep up the great work.
Thank you Debra for giving our fourth and fifth grade students the opportunity to enter your contest. We are passionate about writing and it was wonderful to be able to provide “purpose” in the true sense of the word to students. The workshop over the summer was another bonus. The enthusiasm was contagious as students were able to meet one on one with real published authors and editors.
These are moments classroom teachers are eager to provide and your contest was the perfect forum for an unforgettable teaching opportunity. Come visit us soon.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Maloney
4th grade teacher
Dry Creek Elementary
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