State Capitol hosts 20th annual Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards and Scholarship Competition
On March 12, 2014, students, teachers, family members, and guests gathered in the Old Archives Room of the Alabama State Capitol to celebrate the 20th Annual Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards and Scholarship Competition ceremony. Students from twenty-three schools received a total of 100 awards for their poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama. Six students received scholarships for their senior portfolios, and the competition recognized eight student-produced literary magazines. See a complete list of awards recipients.
Prior to the ceremony, state legislators took a break from committee meetings to congratulate their young constituents.
“I remember when creative writing was not a part of the curriculum,” said Forum Board President Kirk Curnutt in his keynote address. "It was an extracurricular activity.
“The arts are a part of our culture and a vital economic contributor our state’s economy. Remember, you are a part of that culture and of that creative economy.”
Below is a photo exhibit of the ceremony. Click the thumbnail to get the big picture. (Photos by Terry Bruno-fotowerks)
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Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner with ASFA students
Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner (R-District 16, Jefferson, Shelby) (center) congratulates the Alabama School of Fine Arts students, Executive Director Michael Meeks, and teacher T.J. Beitelman. 72-28
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Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner with Pelham High School students
Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner (R-District 16, Jefferson, Shelby) congratulates Pelham High School students Kathryn Clemmons, Kaitlin Moon, and Haley Griffin. 72-26
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Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner with Indian Springs students, teacher
Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner (R-District 16, Jefferson, Shelby) congratulates Indian Springs students Seth Pelman, John O’Malley, Ameer Ha Kim, Tahireh Markert, and teacher Douglas Ray. 72-31
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Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner congratulates Lita Waggoner
Senate Majority Leader J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner (R-District 16, Jefferson, Shelby) congratulates kinsman Lita Waggoner, a student at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. 72-30
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Sen. Quinton Ross with Booker T. Washington Magnet School students
Sen. Quinton Ross (D-District 26, Montgomery) congratulates Booker T. Washington Magnet School students Christian Wysmulek and Micaela Walley. 72-23
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Sen. Cam Ward with Pelham High School teacher, students
Sen. Cam Ward (R-District 14, Bibb, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby) (center) congratulates Pelham High School teacher Connie Nolan and students Kathryn Clemmons, Kaitlin Moon, and Haley Giffin. 32-24
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Sen. Arthur Orr with Mary Butgereit
Sen. Arthur Orr (R-District 3, Limestone, Madison , Morgan,) presents Mary Butgereit (Bob Jones High School) with a proclamation honoring her creative work. 72-18
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Reps. Joe Faust and Harry Shiver with Baldwin County High School student, mother
Reps. Joe Faust (R-District 94, Baldwin) (left) and Harry Shiver (R-District 64, Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe) congratulate Karen Giordano and her daughter, Mary Mosley, a student at Baldwin County High School. 72-21
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Reps. Joe Faust and Harry Shiver with Fairhope High School teacher, student
Reps. Joe Faust (R-District 94, Baldwin) (2nd from left) and Harry Shiver (R-District 64, Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe) congratulate Fairhope High School teacher Rocky Moore and her student, Emma Bryd. 72-15
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Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin with Briarwood Christian School teacher, students
Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin (R-District 43, Jefferson and Shelby) congratulates Briarwood Christian School teacher Jon Carter and his students, Caroline Ward and MeMe Collier. 72-8
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Rep. Paul DeMarco with Homewood High School students, teacher
Rep. Paul DeMarco (R-District 46, Jefferson) congratulates Homewood High School students Jake Fuqua and Jaylon Underwood and their teacher, Amy Marchino. 72-3
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Rep. Mac McCutcheon with Mary Butgereit
Rep. Mac McCutcheon (R-District 25, Limestone and Madison) congratulates Bob Jones High School student Mary Butgereit. 72-33
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Rep. Donnie Chesteen with Geneva High School teacher, student
Rep. Donnie Chesteen (R-District 87, Geneva and Houston) presents a proclamation honoring Geneva High School student Amanda Dyer, here with her teacher Cathy Ellison. 72-11
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Rep. Elaine Beech with Torey Steele
Rep. Elaine Beech ((D-District 65, Choctaw, Clarke, and Washington) congratulates Choctaw County High School student Torey Steele. 72-17
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Ruth Ott with Christian Wysmulek
Ruth Ott congratulates Booker T. Washington Magnet School student Christian Wysmulek, recipient of the Ruth and Jay Ott Senior Portfolio Scholarship. 72-44
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Jim Buford with Ansley Ayers
Forum Board member Jim Buford congratulates Ansley Ayers, a student at Auburn Junior High School. 72-39
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Kirk Curnutt with Scottsboro High School students
Forum Board President Kirk Curnutt congratulates Scottsboro High School students Cheyenne Dalton and Holly Michaels. 72-35
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Robert Hitt with students
Black Warrior Review Managing Editor and Literary Magazine Judge Robert Hitt with Ceri-Lune Renneboog (Alabama School of Fine Arts) and Me Me Collier (Briarwood Christian School)
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Susie Paul with Highland Home School mother, student
Poetry judge Susie Paul (right) congratulates mother and daughter Martha and Jessica Sexton of Highland Home School. 72-43
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Mt. Brook High School students with teacher
Eli York, Robin Marie McDaniel, teacher Denise Trimm, and Adelaide Dunn represent the winners from Mt. Brook High School. 72-40
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Booker T. Washington Magnet School students with teacher
Booker T. Washington Magnet School teacher Foster Dickson (center) congratulates his students Christian Wysmulek, Micaela Walley, Jasmyne Ray, Jasmine Baxter, Madison Hunter, and Jennifer Norris. 72-46
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Kirk Curnutt, Anne Kimzey, and Will Sellers
Forum President Kirk Curnutt chats with Alabama State Council on the Arts Literary Liaison Anne Kimzey and ASCA Board member Will Sellers. 72-39
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The Writing Our Stories team
Harold Aram Jr., DYS Vacca Campus cooperating teacher; Marlin Barton, DYS Mt. Meigs teaching writer; Cleveland Gavin, Lurleen B. Wallace School principal; Rafael Richardson , DYS Schools Superintendent; and Walter Wood, DYS Executive Director accept awards for two of Barton’s students. 72-37
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Jeanie Thompson
Alabama Writers’ Forum Executive Director Jeanie Thompson welcomes the audience. 72-31
