Sponsored by LC’s Division of Humanities, the contest “provided a venue for young writers to share their creative work with others who share their love of language,” said Dr. Cheryl Clark, chair of the division. “Ultimately, we wanted to provide a space for these students to be publicly honored and rewarded for their efforts because we believe encouraging young writers is an important part of our role as educators.”

The contest garnered submissions from public, private and home schools in the region. “We had many nicely crafted pieces, so the selection process for the finalists was difficult,” Clark said. “The great participation not only speaks to the talent of Louisiana students, but it also speaks to the dedication of our high school teachers. We are really pleased with the outcome of the event and are already making plans for next year’s event.”

Ford, who won a $1,000 scholarship to LC and an iPad, said she intends to enroll at LC next year. When asked why she chose LC, she said: “I came to Clarinet Day a few months ago and I really liked that. I really liked the campus. Everyone was so nice to me.”

LC’s Division of Humanities plans to offer the “Write or Recite” competition again, as other LC divisions consider how to customize the idea to fit their disciplines for future such contests.