The Indian Hill School District celebrates the Indian Hill Middle School (IHMS) students who authored an incredible story of success during the Power of the Pen District Competition at Little Miami Middle School on Saturday, January 27. The IHMS team earned first place, demonstrating exceptional talent and teamwork.
“We are incredibly proud of these outstanding student-writers,” said Indian Hill Middle School Principal Lauren Gentene. “Creative endeavors take exceptional courage, and these students not only accepted the challenge, but also accelerated to the best of the best writers in the district.”
The seventh grade team, comprising Olivia Zhao, Devyanshie Rautela, Ava Mehzad, Hannah Joseph, Ella Bay, Kaz On, and alternate Avery Brown, clinched first place with their collective performance. Individual accolades were also in abundance; Ella Bay secured the eighth position, while Olivia Zhao earned a fifth place finish, both receiving Medallions for their outstanding contributions. The eighth grade team was not far behind in showcasing their prowess. Team members Skye Boymel, Lottie Henz, Rahlee Guerrero, Josephine Tindale, Isaac Kim, and Haddyn Backlund displayed remarkable skill, with Backlund achieving an 11th place finish individually and earning a Medallion.
The competition, held at Little Miami Middle School, served as a platform for student-writers to represent Indian Hill in creative writing, competing against their peers in a high-pressure environment that fosters growth as writers and thinkers. The event also emphasized the importance of teamwork and support among the participants, challenging them to push their boundaries and excel. The creative writing contest challenges participants with three sets of timed writings, and IHMS students were evaluated both individually and as a team on their abilities to express insightful perspectives and capture the essence of human emotions through writing.
“These talented writers continue to blow me away with their turn of phrases, insightful perspectives, and ability to capture real human emotions when they put pen to paper,” said IHMS teacher and team mentor Katherine Moster. “I am so proud of each and every one of them for their hard work and wonderful narratives.”
This achievement underscores the dedication and talent of the Indian Hill students in the realm of creative writing, marking a promising start to their journey in the literary world. The winning students now advance to the Power of the Pen Southwest Regional Tournament taking place on Saturday, March 2 at Cincinnati Country Day School.
Photo caption: Indian Hill Middle School students were all smiles as they authored a story of success during the Power of the Pen District Competition in January.