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.”
Charles Adler says
Hey, how do I start a giving program for young students that excel in geography- Lauren mention in the Spy, I like to send $50 for her achievement additionally. I’d add a ” hey take a look a look at geography” aspect but I’ve been wondering about a county level program. $50- $1000 for the winners grades 2-6 or 8. An annual challenge if you will. An open small dollar scholarship.
Of course I’d like to pose the content for the challenge in a young persons frame of reference.
Point is, i don’t know what’s in Ed system currently, but if they aren’t getting a rigid where it is, why it is, and why would someone care- than its poor education. Into the future place space is critical politically, socioeconomically, physically. Environmentally.
It bodes the question to what are young people are exposed to aside from daily social networking. It’s all about identifying relationships.