The judging panel for the 2023 Okanagan Young Writers91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ Awards has announced the finalists for the annual student literary contest.
Okanagan Publishing House91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s second annual awards aim to promote excellence in writing at the high school and early college level. Submissions for the awards were open to people aged 14-19.
More than 40 submissions were received from nearly 20 different schools. The panelists chose the following finalists in the poetry and short story categories:
Poetry:
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Ruby Leavitt, J.L. Crowe Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Noemie Shirrer, Okanagan Mission Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Courtney Westfall, Kelowna Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Lucy Witteman, W.L. Seaton Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Ray Davie, Kelowna Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Alice Melikhanov, Heritage Christian Online
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Savannah Corcoran, Vernon Secondary
Short story:
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Jaidyn Danyluk, Jackson Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Anna Beyer, W.L. Seaton Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Selynn Choo, Vernon Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Ray Davie, Kelowna Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Alice Melikhanov, Heritage Christian Online
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Rory Macpherson, George Elliot Secondary
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Betty Rempel, Charles Bloom Secondary
The judging panel features some of the region91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s finest, including Kerry Gilbert of Okanagan College Vernon campus, Jeremy Beaulne of Okanagan College Penticton campus, Jeremy Lanaway of Okanagan College Vernon campus, Jadon Dick, Okanagan Publishing House editor-in-chief, and Robert Humphries, a local published poet.
All finalists will have the opportunity to be published digitally and in print by Okanagan Publishing House in its Best of the 2023 OYWA Collection, with proceeds from sales going to next year91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s competition.
In addition to having their work published, there is a cash scholarship for the winners provided by The Vernon Morning Star. The top three writers in each category will also receive medallions by The Trophy Den, and will get to take part in a public reading hosted by Okanagan Publishing House in February.
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