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Student Writers Take Home Eight MN Scholastic Writing Awards
Two Columbia Heights High School journalism students earned a total of eight awards at the 2020 Minnesota Scholastic Writing Awards (MSWA) – a competition organized and judged by the Minnesota Writing Project.
Seniors Peter Heryla and Molly Wilson – taught by CHHS English and Film Studies Teacher Chris Polley – earned five Silver Key awards and three Honorable Mentions.
Heryla earned Silver Key awards for “Enrollment increases, breaking new records” in the journalism category;
“Symbolism and Survival: A Literary Analysis of Lord of the Flies, The Yellow Wallpaper and This Morning I Pray for My Enemies” in the critical essay category; “Growing up early” in the memoir category; and one for his writing portfolio. He earned an Honorable Mention for “Boosting the State of a City” in the journalism category.
“I was really excited to receive [these] Scholastic Writing Awards because I worked really hard on my pieces,” said Heryla. “I'm proud that I'm able to write well in a variety of styles, including journalism and classic essay writing.”
Wilson earned a Silver Key award for “'Geminae’ shocks!” in the journalism category. She was awarded Honorable Mentions for “Artist paints war” and “Vocalists unite to showcase talent” both in the journalism category; and “Premature Journalism” in the critical essay category.
“It is honestly just really nice to get recognized for my work,” Wilson noted. “I put so much effort and time into everything I write and to have someone who doesn't know my name or my story tell me I am doing well. I'm honored.”
“I was excited to help our students submit their writing for the Scholastic Writing Awards because I knew that, just like our art students, we have a lot of talented writers at Heights that deserve recognition too,” said Polley. “I am incredibly proud of Peter and Molly for their bold and passionate voices as well as their indelible contributions to ‘The Heights Herald.’”
Heryla and Wilson will be recognized at the 2020 MSWA ceremony 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Ramsey County Library in Roseville.
Want to read Heryla and Wilson's winning works? Click the links above!