Horner... 2011 Good Tidings

2011 Good Tidings for Horner

 

     "There are so many things to be grateful for", said Elizabeth Horner, a rising student of Greenville Senior High School.  Horner has several reasons to be especially grateful in 2011.

 

     She thanks Superintendent Susie Riegle for bringing the Power of the Pen Program to Greenville.  "As we welcome the New Year, Greenville Junior High will not only have a team competing but will be gearing up to host the 2011 district tournament, a preparatory to the state-wide competition, on January 8th".   

Sixteen schools are participating in this year's district level, according to Horner, including another new local comer, the De Colores Montessori School. Other schools participating are Fairlawn Local - Sidney, Fort Loramie High School - Shelby, Franklin Monroe - Darke, Houston High - Shelby, Minster Middle School - Auglaize, Mississinawa Valley - Darke, New Bremen Middle School - Auglaize, New Knoxville Local - Auglaize, Piqua Catholic - Miami, Saint Mary's Middle School - Auglaize, Sidney Middle School - Shelby, Tippecanoe Middle School - Miami, Twin Valley South Middle School - Preble, and Versailles Middle School - Darke.  Horner thanks Elaine Bailey of Mississinawa Valley School for years of tireless dedication to help cultivate Darke County young people's interest in creative writing through the Power of the Pen. 

 

     "Creative writing makes me a better student as it has awakened and sharpened my senses and encouraged self-reflection".  Horner who served as a student judge in the pre-writing (poem) or warm-up portion of the district Power of the Pen competition the past three years said that she has volunteered her time to work with the newly formed Greenville Junior High writing team.  "I like mentoring younger students.  Greenville will have 5 students competing this year and one back-up student".  "I would like Greenville students to have the opportunity to test their creative writing skills through the Power of the Pen competition, a chance I did not have as a seventh or eight grade student".

 

     "The New Year brings other good tidings".  This budding student writer is heading to Washington D.C. as a National Youth Correspondent representing Ohio.  She will be joining a select group of about 200 students from around the country for an intensive study to learn from distinguished faculty and guest speakers from the media industry.  Horner will have direct access to elite D.C. practitioners and some Congressional Representatives while attending the 2011 Washington Scholars Program, Journalism and Media Conference.  The week long program will be held primarily at George Mason University but a sampling of activities  include venues like the USA Today Headquarters, National Press Club, Capitol Hill and visits to the Newseum, Smithsonian and Library of Congress.  George Mason University has been named the number one national university to watch in the 2009 rankings of U.S. News and World Report.

 

     Horner was chosen based on her excellent academic accomplishments.  Her qualifications include a 4.3 GPA in a 4.0 scale at the end of her 10th grade year and she continues to take advance placement curriculum as an 11th grade student. Horner was also selected because of her demonstrated passion and above average skills in writing and leadership potential.

 

     The Washington Journalism and Media Conference is designed to encourage and provide unique training to future leaders in the changing face of media in the 21st century.