Utilizing creativity: juniors from SJHS achieve a NTCE writing award

On May 8, the winners for the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards were announced. Writers had to submit a piece of writing based on the contest’s provided prompt The Joys of Writing. 

“We all signed up to do the competition and we had to write two pages to be judged,” Emily Seering, 11 said. Based on the number of students in the school, only five juniors were selected to write for the awards once judged anonymously by a group of SJHS English teachers. 

Photo by Samaika Singh

Emily Seering, 11 holds up her NTCE writing award, showing off what she received.

The finalists chosen include juniors Emily Seering, Sam Church, Lorelai White, Marco Garofalo, and Samaika Singh. 

“It was a good experience for all of us. It was stressful when submitting because we didn’t have a lot of time, but it was easy to set aside a couple of minutes a day to write,” Marco said. 

Photo by Melina Langmeyer

Juniors Sam Church, Lorelai White, Marco Garofalo, and Samaika Singh hold up their NTCE writing award.

The five juniors received level awards for their writing. Three of them received excellent and two received superior. “It was very frustrating, but once you receive the recognition and awards, it is so rewarding,” Samaika said.