AUGUSTA — Three high school juniors, including one from Lewiston High School, have been chosen as the winners of the Maine Community College System’s “A Journey into Writing” contest and named 2015 Governor’s Young Writers of the Year, according to a news release from the Maine Community College System.
They are Divine Selengbe, who attends Lewiston High School; Addie Monahan-Morang of Freeport High School and Morganne Elkins of North Yarmouth Academy.
The three students were each presented with a $2,500 check from Gov. Paul LePage in a ceremony at the Blaine House on Thursday. MCCS Interim President Derek Langhauser and Matt Kasper, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in New England, joined the governor in presenting the awards.
Selengbe won for her essay, “That’s Just Who I Am,” Monahan-Morang for her short story, “Mama,” and Elkins for her short story, “Cold House.”
The judges were noted Maine authors Susan Kenney, Lewis Robinson and Bill Roorbach.
The contest is open to high school juniors across the state and is supported by U.S. Cellular, which has provided $100,000 in prize money to finalists since 2005. In all, nine finalists were chosen from 177 entries this year, representing more than 60 Maine high schools.
Six other finalists included Chandler Clothier, Lewiston High School; Sarah Cooper, Bath; Jesse Dunn, Waldoboro; Park Laflin, Mt. Blue High School; Thomas LaJoie, Van Buren District Secondary School; and Colin Prato, Yarmouth High School.
During the past 11 years, more than 2,400 Maine students have submitted entries for the writing contest.
To enter, students submit a short story, essay or poem. For more information, go to mccs.me.edu.
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