Monday, April 06, 2009

* BREAKING NEWS: Mark Twain House To Host Young Writers 12th Annual Bash May 31


Connecticut State University System Announcement:
12th Annual
Connecticut Young Writers Competition
Awards Ceremony
Moves to Mark Twain House & Museum


Hartford Landmark Will Host
State's Top High School Writers on May 31;
Universities Will Host
Regional Award Ceremonies Later This Month


APRIL 6, 2009 -- The 2009 Connecticut Young Writers awards ceremony,which highlights works of poetry and prose submitted by teenagers from throughout the state, will be held for the first time this year the Mark Twain House& Museum in Hartford, after 11 years at the Litchfield Inn.

  • CSU System Newsroom


  • The competition has inspired the participation of over 580 students this year -- the third highest number of entries in the competition's 12years -- and is sponsored by IMPAC and the Connecticut State University System.The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2009, beginning at 7 p.m., following a reception that begins at 5:30 p.m.

    "There could not be a better setting to honor outstanding young writers than the Mark Twain House & Museum. The talent and creativity of a new generation of Connecticut writers is clearly evident, and the inspiration that Mark Twain's example provides is especially fitting as we recognize their excellent prose and poetry," said David G. Carter, chancellor of the Connecticut State University System.

    That evening,16 students who will be selected this month as county winners in prose and poetry categories from Connecticut's eight counties, will be vying for selection as the statewide winner, thus qualifying to receive a trip to Ireland for celebrations connected with the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the Dublin Writers Festival.

    "The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter -- it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
    -- Mark Twain, 1888.


    "These students certainly understand what Mark Twain was saying in 1888.The Mark Twain House &Museum is honored to host the 12th Annual Young Writers Award Ceremony. Hartford's Nook Farm was a haven for 19th century writers, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dudley Warner, and, of course, Mark Twain. I can not think of a more fitting location in Connecticut for this prestigious awards ceremony," said Jeffrey L. Nichols, executive director of The Mark Twain House & Museum.

    "With the help of many sponsors and volunteer laborers throughout Connecticut,we are able to say, again, to Connecticut's best young writers: 'Yes, you are a poet. Yes, you are writer.' We are honored especially this year to walk where Twain walked as we affirm and celebrate the work of young writers,"said Andy Thibault, chairman, Young Writers Trust.


    Rockville High School English teacher Victoria Nordlund [left] and senior Melanie Lieberman [center] with NBC 30's Tom Monahan

    The awards ceremony is preceded by afternoon programs and writing workshops for the students, as well as tours of the Mark Twain House & Museum. Co-masters of ceremonies for the program are author Rand Richards Cooper, broadcaster Diane Smith, Central Connecticut State University Professor of English Ravi Shankar, and author/columnist Colin McEnroe. Speakers will include Rockville High School senior Melanie Lieberman, the 2007 state prose champion;and her teacher, Victoria Nordlund, chair of Rockville's English department.


    ELIZABETH THOMAS

    Performance poet and slam coach Elizabeth Thomas, the Connecticut Review Poet in Residence for the Naugatuck public schools, will lead an afternoon workshop for teachers on how to teach performance poetry. The May 31 event,which will be catered by La Cupola Ristorante and featuring the Jen Allen Big Band, begins at 5:30 p.m. [Tickets are $50 per person. Teachers participating in the teacher workshop should add $25.]

    County champions are to be selected from about a dozen finalists in each category in each county. Regional ceremonies will be held:

    * Monday, April 20, at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, for Hartford and Tolland counties;
    * Thursday, April 23, at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, for Fairfield and Litchfield counties;
    * Monday, April 27, at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, for Middlesex and New Haven counties; and
    * Tuesday, April 28, at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, for New London and Windham counties.

    The state winners in prose and poetry, to be announced at the Mark Twain House ceremony, will be invited, with a parent, to a week of festivities in Ireland connected with the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the Dublin Writers Festival. There, they will also meet young writers from Europe and Asia. Their works will also be considered for publication in Connecticut Review, the literary journal published by the Connecticut State University System (CSUS).

    The Connecticut Young Writers competition affirms the work of young poets and writers and celebrates their accomplishments. IMPAC Chairman Jim Irwin and retired CSUS Chancellor William Cibes expanded the Young Writers Program from Litchfield County to cover the entire state in 2000.

    IMPAC, a leading global productivity firm, sponsors the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, which, at 100,000 euros, is the largest in the world for a single work of fiction. CSUS serves nearly 36,000 students, making it the largest public university system in Connecticut. CSUS offers 160 academic programs, and a record setting 6,870 degrees were awarded in 2008.

    ______________________________________________________________________________
    MEDIA CONTACTS:
    Andy Thibault, Connecticut Young Writers Trust, tntcomm82@cs.com, 860-690-0211
    Terri Raimondi, CSUS Public Relations, raimondit@ct.edu, 860-493-0040
    --



    LAURA McCABE, lead vocalist, Jen Allen Big Band, In 2008 Musical Finale, Imagination
    video at the very bottom of this post


  • CSU System Young Writers Page


  • Mark Twain House & Museum


  • Young Writers Trust



  • Program sponsorships are available
    for a limited time as follows:


    Business Card Ads in Program, $250;
    Dublin Trip Prose Sponsors, 5 @ $400.
    Dublin Trip Poetry Sponsor, 5 @ $400.
    County Award Co-Sponsors, $500.

    * The IMPAC-Connecticut State University System Young Writers Trust is anon-profit foundation affiliated by Charter with the International IMPACDublin Literary Award and classified by the IRS as a 501 C (3) Public Charity.Federal Tax ID: 31-1635811

    Some supporters have sent in donations of $50 and $100. We are very grateful for this support, which will help us get through this very difficult year.

    Please make checks out to:
    IMPAC-CSU System Young Writers
    and mail to:
    231 Beach St.
    Litchfield, CT 06759

    *new biz cards can also be mailed to Beach St. or electronically to tntcomm82@cs.com


    Draft INVITATION
    Seating Limited

    You are cordially invited to attend the
    12TH Annual IMPAC-CSU System Young Writers
    Statewide Ceremony &Celebration

    Sunday, May 31, 2009
    Mark Twain House &Museum, 351 Farmington, Ave., Hartford

    2 p.m. Tour &Programs For Young Writers
    4:30 p.m. Workshops For Young Writers &Teachers (CEUs granted)
    5:30-6:45 p.m. Reception Catered By Frank Rosa's La Cupola Ristorante &Inn
    7 p.m. Awards Ceremony

    Special Guests
    Melanie Lieberman, 2007 State Prose Champion
    Victoria Nordlund, Poet &English teacher
    Elizabeth Thomas, Teacher Workshop Leader / Performance Poetry

    Co-Masters of Ceremonies
    Rand Richards Cooper, Author
    Diane Smith, Author & Positively CT TV Host
    Ravi Shankar, Poet in Residence, English Professor, CCSU
    Colin McEnroe, Author &Columnist, Hartford Courant

    Reception Entertainment
    Jen Allen Big Band Featuring...

    Reception Donation*
    $50 per person (teacher workshop add $25)

    PLZ MAKE CHECKS OUT TO IMPAC-CSU YOUNG WRITERS

    -RSVP by May 21, 2009

    ANDY THIBAULT
    IMPAC-CSU System Young Writers Trust
    231 Beach St.
    Litchfield, CT 06759

    800-814-6931 or 860-690-0211
    tntcomm82@cs.com
    www.ctyoungwriters.org

    * The IMPAC-Connecticut State University System Young Writers Trust is a non-profit foundation affiliated by Charter with the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and classified by the IRS as a 501 C (3) Public Charity. Federal Tax ID: 31-1635811


    * YOUNG WRITERS TWAIN HOUSE LA CUPOLA DRAFT MENU

    this is a raw
    1st draft
    highlighting many of the possibilities ...
    Items will be added and subtracted


    Reception, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Sunday, May 31, 2009
    IMPAC-CSU System Young Writers Trust
    12th annual celebration

    CHEF-ATTENDED CARVING STATION
    Roasted turkey breast with whole grain mustard and imported rustic breads
    Over seared pochetta served with olive, sundried tomato pesto and rustic breads

    ITALIAN ANTIPASTO BOARD
    Dried cured meats, aged imported cheeses, pickled garden vegetables, rustic breads

    FRUIT DISPLAY WITH YOGURT SAUCE


    SEASONAL VEGETABLE DISPLAY
    Crisp garden vegetables served with Italian gorgonzola dip and roasted garlic hummus and assorted flat breads

    BUTLER PASSED HORS D'OEUVRES
    Tomato bruschetta
    Lump crab stuffed mushrooms
    Coney island franks
    Spinach risotto Arancia
    Lobster &corn fritters
    Asparagus tips with smoked salmon goat cheese wrapped in pastry
    Lobster tart cobbler
    Scallops wrapped in bacon
    Miniature Maryland crab cakes
    Lollipop baby lamb chops
    Chicken sate with olive, sundried tomato pesto
    Red and yellow cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella skewers
    Roasted tenderloin crostini with horseradish aioli and green onions
    Chicken tempura
    Goat cheese and wild mushroom strudel
    Shrimp wrapped with arugula and prosciutto
    Baked polenta with wild mushrooms and gorgonzola cheese
    English cucumbers with smoked salmon
    Figs stuffed with goat cheese and prosciutto
    Roast duck wrapped with arugula on brochette with aged balsamic
    Assorted pizzas


    -- left to right: Franz Douskey, Young Writers Trust founding board member; Britta Bell, 08 statewide poetry winner; Ben Cooper, 08 statewide prose winner; and Jack Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University.


    2009 COUNTY FINALISTS

    Prose

    LITCHFIELD COUNTY

    Amy Hambidge
    Ransom
    New Milford High School

    Veronica Birdsall
    Cocoon
    Litchfield High School

    Melissa Yorker
    Summer Canvas
    Torrington High School

    Clarissa Burch
    Missing You
    New Milford High School

    Ellen French
    Riches
    Torrington High School

    Bridget Smith
    Children of the Moon
    Litchfield High School

    Rachel Beauregard
    My Tears Can Run No More
    Litchfield High School

    Crystal Booth
    The Struggle to Escape
    Litchfield High School

    Theresa Legan
    Extracurricular Activities
    New Milford High School

    Daniel Holland
    Tour of a Birch-Hemlock Temperate Rain Forest
    New Milford High School

    NEW LONDON COUNTY

    Richard Riden
    Sound of a City Burning
    Montville High School

    Hilary Sunderland
    Beauty in the Breakdown
    Griswold High School

    Regan Miner
    Sweet William
    Norwich Free Academy

    Gloria Anne Creamer
    Untitled
    Montville High School

    Joanie Drake
    The Plunge
    Ledyard High School

    Jessica Franco
    Standard Procedure
    Ledyard High School

    Kanani Kinnaman
    One
    Kinnaman Home School

    Margaret Linn
    Storyteller
    Norwich Free Academy

    Harold Limkemann
    The Knight
    Montville High School

    Lauren Specht
    It's Not Over
    Montville High School

    WINDHAM COUNTY

    Tom Simpson
    Trench
    Woodstock Academy

    Kianne Gaylor
    Illuminating the Shadows
    Woodstock Academy

    Olivia Richman
    To Fit In, Or Not To Fit In: That is the Question
    Woodstock Academy

    Anna Nassiff
    How to Walk on a Cloud
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Megan Nelson
    My Promise to You
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Tatiana Amill
    Buddy's House
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Christine Peterson
    A Sunny Day
    Killingly High School

    Scott Mutchler
    The Corporate Ritual
    Woodstock Academy

    HARTFORD COUNTY

    Maggie Hendrickson
    Mina's Mornings
    Bristol Eastern High School

    Victoria-Lynn Bell
    The Swing
    Martin Kellogg Middle School

    Katie Kowalski
    Dad Is With Me
    Henry James Memorial School

    Isabel Hall
    Leap Of Faith
    Granby Memorial High School

    Angel Villa
    He Spoke Lightly
    Kingswood-Oxford School

    Ryan Juliano
    Prologue To A Heist
    Northwest Catholic High School

    Maxwell O'Brasky
    Saint Charles Darniette
    Kingswood-Oxford School

    Leah Shafer
    Snap
    Simsbury High School

    Joshua Robair
    Harmless Studies of the Insane
    Farmington High School

    Kaelyn Kelly-Colon
    Queenie: The Cain & Abel Complex
    Manchester High School

    Marissa Bergman
    Autumn Rythmn
    Farmington High School

    Kim Miller
    3130 Miles
    Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

    FAIRFIELD COUNTY

    Emma Lowenberg
    Bernard
    Lowenberg Home School

    Adriana Rexon
    Breathless
    Greenwich Academy

    Betsy James
    Blind Faith
    Central High School

    Katie Fragoso
    My Wings Have Finally Taken Dream
    Newtown High School

    Meagan Goldman
    Lost Car Keys
    Greenwich Academy

    David Buchannan
    The Drifter
    Immaculate High School

    Oliva Lowenberg
    The Black Death: Prelude to Rebirth
    Lowenberg Home School

    Maureen Davis
    Warm Welcome, New Outlook
    Saint Joseph High School

    Gus Ruchman
    American Airwaves: The Communication of Hope and Anxiety in the Golden Age of Radio
    Greenwich Academy

    Giulia Caterini
    Skin Deep
    Greenwich Academy

    Faith Lynn Morris
    Poseur Who? Poseur You.
    Central Magnet High School

    Jensine Eckwall
    Poetry Out Loud Analysis and Reflection
    Newtown High School

    Nathan Dembowski
    Street Etiquette From The Modern Point of View
    Brookfield High School


    TOLLAND COUNTY

    Jessica Ruman
    Photo
    Rockville High School

    Dawn Rzeznikiewicz
    Love You Too
    Rockville High School

    Katharine Vannier
    Edelweiss Ghost
    Rockville High School

    Amanda Schroth
    Pretty, Pretty Baby
    Ellington High School

    Katie Angelica
    Hearts Tide
    Ellington Middle School

    Melanie Lieberman
    A Bird in the Hand, Worth Two in the Bush
    Rockville High School

    Allison Burg
    Cappucino Girl
    Rockville High School

    Rebecca Arkin
    Our Last Pageant
    Horace W. Porter School

    Rose Goldich
    Laughter
    Rockville High School

    Elise Ursin
    Lost
    E.O. Smith High School

    Connor Tracy
    Spam
    E.O. Smith High School

    Catherine Stanford
    Calling Down a Statue
    E.O. Smith High School

    Emily Gregonis
    The Whisper in the Woods
    Horace W. Porter School

    MIDDLESEX COUNTY

    Joseph Gayeski
    The Hendrickson Butcher Shoppe
    Xavier High School

    Julia Eastwood
    The First Day
    Old Saybrook High School

    Kathryn Mill
    Shades of Gray
    Old Saybrook High School

    Jeff Holmes
    Life is So Precious
    Valley Regional High School

    Chrissy Guirri
    Pain Tolerance
    Old Saybrook High School

    David Grylka
    The Descent
    East Hampton High School

    Evelyn Benvie
    Once More
    Valley Regional High School

    Kevin Dunn
    The Untimely Death of Walter Hadley
    Valley Regional High School

    Liz Palmieri
    My Dream of Having a Dream
    Old Saybrook High School

    Dana Callahan
    So You've Come to Make a Deposit?
    Valley Regional High School

    Mary Katherine Bowering
    The Grave Shave
    Valley Regional High School

    Amanda King
    Graduation
    Old Saybrook High School

    Kaitlyn Ernst
    The Well-Known Stranger
    Valley Regional High School

    Liza Dee
    Mr. Cross
    Valley Regional High School

    Meaghan Fabrycki
    The New World
    East Hampton High School

    NEW HAVEN COUNTY

    Charlotte Beach
    Thanksgiving Poker Night
    Education Center for the Arts

    Natalie Beach
    The Autumn Fall
    Education Center for the Arts

    Julie Brown
    Body
    Education Center for the Arts

    Jesse Erickson
    Scrimshaw
    Long River Middle School

    Aliza Gans
    The Mile
    Education Center for the Arts

    Charles Hart
    The Final Consumers
    Woodland Regional High School

    Tamanna Hassin
    Migration
    Education Center for the Arts

    Lindsey Hawthorne
    Passageway to the Past
    Long River Middle School

    Meg Lincoln
    Proud of Sanity
    Education Center for the Arts

    McKenzie White
    A Slave in Love
    Long River Middle School

    Jane Youngberg
    Footprints
    Education Center for the Arts

    Poetry

    FAIRFIELD COUNTY

    Molly O'Neill
    Orange
    Greenwich Academy

    Amanda Ball
    Snapshots Denied
    Greenwich Academy

    Todd Massedge
    My Crater
    St. Joseph High School

    Christine Elwell
    Ki$$
    St. Joseph High School

    Emily Grosso
    One Moment
    St. Joseph High School

    Caitlin Tefft
    Still/Frame/Shot
    Newtown High School

    Rachel Fulton
    I LoveYou Not
    Joel Barlow High School

    Heath Goldman
    By The Sea
    Greenwich Academy

    Kathleen Wrobel
    I Wish I Dream I Hope
    Immaculate High School

    Susannah Benjamin
    A Little Glass Bowl
    Greenwich Academy

    Cassandra Urban
    An Autumns Fire-A Tanka Chain
    Alternative Center for Excellence

    Melanie Wajda
    Black Market
    Wilton High School

    LITCHFIELD COUNTY

    Catherine Winslow
    Shades of Grey
    The Taft School

    Elizabeth Soucy
    Changes
    Torrington High School

    Colleen Behuniak
    #13
    Torrington High School

    Krystal Pesino
    Grandfather
    Torrington Middle School

    Erin McElhone
    We Are America
    Torrington High School

    Emma Welty
    Crook Horn Road
    Nonnewaug High School

    Josh Jordan
    #47
    Torrington High School

    Aytan Koch
    Darelsalam Ahmed Eisa, 18
    New Milford High School

    Rebecca Schaefer
    The Story of Hades and Persephone
    New Milford High School

    Kevin Redmond
    The Cold Stare of Infinity
    Torrington High School

    NEW LONDON COUNTY

    Tess Williams
    Arianna
    The Williams School

    Dan Fisher
    Ode To A Leaf
    The Williams School

    Alyssa Andres
    To Find Yourself
    East Lyme High School

    Jhyde Ryals
    To: Jhyde, From Daddy
    Fitch Senior High School

    Andrea Weiner
    Body Language
    The Williams School

    Riley Richards
    I Swear
    The Williams School

    Toni Pawlowski
    My Poem
    Lyman Memorial High School

    Christopher Schellens
    Description of a Picture
    The Williams School

    Laura Hagen
    Montana
    The Williams School

    Molly Hannon
    Drosophila melanogaster
    The Williams School

    WINDHAM COUNTY

    Samaria Gutierrez
    You
    Windham High School

    Nathan Babinski
    Hidden Royalty
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Samantha Credit
    Cherry Bay
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Brandon Tracy
    Skin
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Brittany Murphy
    Milk
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Yarelis Rivera
    I Said No
    Windham High School

    Taylor Martin
    Entity
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Sarah Aubin
    The Dove
    Arts at the Capitol Theater

    Jeremy Porter
    Today's Kids
    Plainfield High School

    Benjamin FitzSimmons
    Hip Hop
    Windham High School

    HARTFORD COUNTY

    Thelma Boamah
    The Memories of Virginia Tech
    East Hartford High School

    Madeleine Morrin
    Math Teacher's Last Love Letter
    Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

    Emily Delano
    Weaving
    Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

    Emmett Gilles
    Klotho's Road
    Conard High School

    Jillian Barry
    The Leaves are like Chameleons
    Rocky Hill High School

    Caitlin Meuser
    Christmas Eve 1980
    Simsbury High School

    Andrea Lamari
    The Bend of Bodies
    Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

    Taylor Bidon
    Theme for English A
    Granby Memorial Middle School

    Hailey Aguero
    A Mother's Reign
    Newington High School

    Jenna Dafgek
    Unanswerable Questions
    Henry James Memorial School

    Jennifer Ky
    Hollow Ambition
    University High School of Science & Engineering

    Amanda Jacobsen
    Asphodel
    Bristol Eastern High School

    Cara Dorris
    Hors de Paris
    Glastonbury High School

    Miriam Thompson
    Nuclear
    Kingswood-Oxford School

    TOLLAND COUNTY

    Lauren Kidd
    Weeding
    Rockville High School

    Aubrey Haboush
    Georgia O
    E.O Smith High School

    Amber Murphy
    The Guardians of Life
    Rockville High School

    Rachel Fuller
    Alarm Lullabies
    E.O. Smith High School

    Seanna Cottle
    The Secret
    E.O. Smith High School

    Kathryn Johndrow
    Early Frost
    Rockville High School

    Jocelyn Weaver
    Champagne Dreams on a Beer Budget
    Rockville High School

    Anne Buller
    Andrew
    Rockville High School

    Patrick Crane
    Memories are Just as Flammable as Gasoline
    Rockville High School

    Caitlin Parmelee
    Something New
    E.O. Smith High School

    Jordyn Woodtke
    Circuitous
    Rockville High School

    Amy Zylberman
    Falling into the Mosh Pit of Love
    Rockville High School

    Miles Wilkerson
    The New World
    E.O. Smith High School

    Jamie Phillips
    Longevity
    E.O. Smith High School

    MIDDLESEX COUNTY

    June Margaret Manuel
    Circus
    Old Saybrook High School

    Katie Herrle
    Lonely Together
    Old Saybrook High School

    Dillon Jones
    Ode
    Old Saybrook High School

    Caroline Bruno
    Portrait of Dr. Wilhelm Mayer-Hermann
    Old Saybrook High School

    Cassidy Wade
    Proud
    Old Saybrook High School

    Lauren Martin
    The Good Guys, Or, I Wanted to Destroy Time One Night
    Old Saybrook High School

    Courtney Duff
    For the Lonely
    Mercy High School

    Margaret Dubey
    The Party
    Valley Regional High School

    Allison Pash
    Timeless
    Valley Regional High School

    NEW HAVEN COUNTY

    Jenn Barrett
    The Cliffs at Minack Theatre
    Westover School

    Christine Cascellla
    Smile
    Westover School

    Alexa Fermeglia
    Reborn
    Woodland Regional High School

    Bridget Hinz
    My Land
    Westover School

    Alice Lloyd
    Picture of a Dream
    Westover School

    Molly Kate McKenna
    An Old Man's Winter Night
    Westover School

    Mary Margaret Meehan
    Morning in March
    Westover School

    Djamilla Mercurio
    Summer Monsoon
    Westover School

    Cleo O'Brien-Udry
    On the Bombing of the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad
    Education Center for the Arts

    Felicity Sheehy
    Evening Conversation
    Westover School

    Helena Tiedmann
    Dominican Postcard
    Westover School

    Amelia Urry
    Sculptures
    Guilford High School




    Musical Finale, 11th Annual Dinner,
    IMPAC-CSU System
    Young Writers Competition, June 2008


  • Jen Allen Big Band
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