Country School 5th grader Lauren Farley attended a celebration on Wednesday, April 27, for the World Artists Experiences writing contest winners. Around 30 students of all ages whose writing was chosen on the theme “The Extended Hands of Friendship” were recognized at the event.
Lauren’s story is called “Competitors, but Also Friends” and is about a new friend she made at a rival figure skating competition in 2015. She says, “It was fun to be able to incorporate the topic of friendship with my favorite sport of figure skating.”
Because World Artists Experiences seeks to promote cultural understanding, the celebration was held at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center in Washington DC, a property of the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman. “I enjoyed learning about Omani culture and meeting the other student writers,” says Lauren.
Lauren received two copies of the bound anthology of all the winning essays & poems—one for her and one for The Country School. The publication was presented to the winners by the Omani Ambassador to the U.S. and attendees were treated to music and snacks from the country of Oman. Dr. Michael Glaser, former Poet Laureate of Maryland, was the project director and editor for the volume.
“This was a wonderful experience for Lauren,” says her mother, Ann Farley. “We are thankful to The Country School and her teachers for all they do to encourage her in writing, and in life.”
