East Central Ohio ESC honors young authors and illustrators

The East Central Ohio Educational Service Center hosted its annual Young Authors’ and Illustrators’ Conference and Competition awards ceremony Feb. 27 at Kent State University at Tuscarawas, celebrating the work of fifth- and ninth-grade students from Tuscarawas and Guernsey counties.

A total of 37 fifth-grade students and 34 ninth-grade students participated this year. Participating districts included Claymont, Dover, East Guernsey, Indian Valley, New Philadelphia, Newcomerstown and Tuscarawas Valley.

The ceremony capped a months-long creative journey that began Oct. 3, when student authors and illustrators gathered for a day of workshops led by professional authors and illustrators. Writers explored storytelling fundamentals such as theme, genre and plot, while illustrators learned visual storytelling basics, including composition and character design.

Students were paired to co-create original stories combining writing and illustrations. Working across grade levels, each student contributed ideas and collaborated with a partner to determine the story’s direction. The teams continued developing their work through January before submitting final pieces. Entries were compiled into an anthology and distributed to participating schools and local libraries.

At the Feb. 27 event, students workshopped one another’s completed stories before an awards ceremony recognized excellence in writing, illustration and collaboration. Winners received certificates, medals and trophies.

Awards included:

Fifth Grade Literary Excellence Award: Ruby Chumney, Tuscarawas Valley, “Once Upon a Dragon”

Ninth Grade Literary Excellence Award: William Ohmart, New Philadelphia, “The Unknown Thing”

Fifth Grade Artistic Excellence Award: Raeleigh McCumbers, Tuscarawas Valley, “The Unknown World”

Ninth Grade Artistic Excellence Award: Delaney Nottingham, Dover, “Diary of Adham”

Fifth Grade Author-Illustrator Excellence Award: Ruby Chumney and Jasmine Masterson, Tuscarawas Valley, “Once Upon a Dragon”

Ninth Grade Author-Illustrator Excellence Award: Morgan Shalosky and Delaney Nottingham, Dover, “In Every Life After”

The annual event brings together student authors and illustrators from across the region to celebrate creativity, collaboration and storytelling.