ACT Creative Writers shine at Eastern Connecticut State University Literary Festival
Willimantic, CT - Creative writing students at EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) performing arts magnet school in Willimantic received recognition at the 2nd annual Literary Festival for High School Students at Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023...
ACT Creative Writers shine at Eastern Connecticut State University Literary Festival
Willimantic, CT - Creative writing students at EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) performing arts magnet school in Willimantic received recognition at the 2nd annual Literary Festival for High School Students at Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.
Out of more than 200 contest entries, three of the 13 finalists – senior Johanna Falck (Scotland), junior AJ McGarry (Newington) and sophomore Milly Stoney (Willimantic) – were ACT students. Stoney took second place, which comes with a $100 prize, the publication of her poem “Seaway Songstress” in the next issue of ECSU’s literary journal, “Here,” and a spot in the release reading event (date TBD).
In addition, ACT junior Brady Canoza (Uncasville) and sophomore Kyaraneliz Crespo (Willimantic) received honorable mentions.
“At ACT, we strive to provide opportunities for our students to demonstrate their learning in authentic ways,” said ACT principal Sarah Mallory. “ECSU’s literary festival was a great opportunity for our students to engage in workshops and showcase their learning to a broad audience. The recognition ACT students received is an outcome of the time and dedication our creative writers put into their work. We are so proud of them.”
Students were encouraged to submit original works of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction to the festival’s writing contest. Pieces submitted were read and adjudicated by ECSU professors and festival presenters.
Kristina Dukette and Stacy Vocasek, directors of the creative writing department at ACT, said they are thrilled that their students are finding success so early in the school year. “We can’t wait to see what happens next for our hardworking and talented students,” Vocasek said. “Big things are on the horizon.”
“Giving them the opportunities to attend workshops and work with published writers is showing many of our students that they can use their creativity to make a living,” Dukette added. “Writing doesn’t have to be a hobby; it can be a fulfilling career.”
McGarry, junior Eliana Guadalupe (Norwich) and first-year student Lilliana Rios (Stafford) read original pieces of poetry during the open mic portion of the day. Attendees also participated in workshops with published authors and were inspired by keynote speaker Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, a writer and visual artist who shared his hopes that students continue being creative throughout their lives.
ACT Creative Writing pathway majors are currently working on pieces to submit to other contents in the region, including the Young Writers: SOS Sagas contest, The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest for students, and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
EASTCONN, which administers ACT, is a public, non-profit Regional Educational Service Center that has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut’s schools and communities since 1980.
Learn more at www.eastconn.org.
ACT Creative Writing Students Published in Young Writers Compendium
Willimantic, CT – For a young writer, seeing one’s work in print for the first time is an unforgettable milestone...
ACT Creative Writing Students Published in Young Writers Compendium
Willimantic, CT – For a young writer, seeing one’s work in print for the first time is an unforgettable milestone. Recent softcover books published by Young Writers, including “Integer” and “Twisted Tales,” have given three Connecticut storytellers from EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) performing arts magnet high school – junior Eliana Guadalupe (Norwich), sophomore Izekeial Phelps (New London) and 2023 graduate Gray Rios (Chaplin) – that very thrill.
“I'm so proud of them,” said Kristina Dukette, English and Creative Writing Teacher at ACT. “The day that I got the books, I brought them in and showed them. They could not get their hands on them fast enough. They read their own stuff. They read other people's stuff. They were all so happy for each other.”
Established in 1991, Young Writers hosts multiple writing contests a year for students of all ages; recent themes include “Spine Chillers,” “Mission Catastrophe” and “Poetry Idol.” In total, eleven students in ACT’s Creative Writing program will be published in the Young Writers publications by the end of the year.
One catch: each story has to be exactly 100 words long.
“It makes it fun,” said Guadalupe, 16, who wants to be a script writer. “I usually don't write 100-word stories, but these have allowed me to be able to write them.”
Creative Writing majors at ACT practice writing across a wide range of literary genres including poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, and SLAM, and present their work through various Coffee House performances, poetry readings and writing contests throughout the school year.
“Kyle the Death Demon,” Guadalupe’s 100-word story for “Integer,” is actually the author’s second published piece in the Young Writers series; a third story, “Crime Scene,” will appear in “Unsolved” later this fall. “My goal as a writer is to be able to make people feel things and make people think about what they're reading,” Guadalupe said. “I think I'm slowly starting to get to that point.”
Both Guadalupe and Phelps are currently enrolled in the Creative Writing pathway at ACT. Rios, who graduated from the program in May, is now studying psychology at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Willimantic.
Inspired by his interests in the mortuary field and crime shows, Phelps, 14, submitted a piece called “The Language of Corpses” for “Twisted Tales,” while Rios wrote a story called “Wall Décor” for the “Unsolved” collection.
“It felt great to see my work recognized,” Rios said. “As a freshman starting college, getting the email letting me know something I wrote my senior year was getting published really boosted me as a writer and as a student.”
Stacy Vocasek, English and Creative Writing Teacher at ACT, said her department had a particularly successful year in terms of contest wins and publications. “More students entered and were recognized in contests than we’ve had in several years,” she said. “It was a joy to see our students push through their fear to submit work; the acknowledgment from others helped grow their confidence. We love being a part of our students’ writing journeys, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Housed in Willimantic’s historic Capitol Theater, ACT enrolls students from eastern Connecticut in its NEASC-accredited, interdisciplinary and arts-infused academic program. Each grade is about 35 students, making ACT an intimate, focused, artistic learning environment. To enroll, students can visit www.eastconn.org/act for an application.
EASTCONN, which administers ACT, is a public, non-profit Regional Educational Service Center that has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut’s schools and communities since 1980. Learn more at www.eastconn.org.
