[stylist] {Disarmed} Youth Writing Contest winner gets some local press

Wed Jul 13 21:03:07 UTC 2011

Awesome news!  I was telling a friend last night  how much I enjoyed 
participating in the youth judging and that there is not one  piece submitted that 
I will soon forget.. now this makes my  day!

In a message dated 7/13/2011 3:27:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
penatwork at epix.net writes:

Hi  Friends,

The following article, which I will both link to and copy  under my name, is
about Megan Copeland (8, Owatonna, Minn.), our 2nd place  winner in the
elementary short story  category.

Enjoy,

Donna

http://owatonna.com/content/mckinley-student-takes-silver-essay-contest

Block  quote

McKinley student takes silver in essay contest

Submitted  by OPP Editorial on Fri, 07/08/2011 -  19:58

<http://owatonna.com/print/92655> Printer-friendly  versionPrinter-friendly
version <http://owatonna.com/printmail/92655>  Send to friendSend to friend 

By DEREK SULLIVAN,  

<mailto:dsullivan at owatonna.com>  dsullivan at owatonna.com

<http://owatonna.com/sites/default/files/7.9-essay-web.jpg>  

Eight-year-old Megan Copeland types Braille at her Owatonna home  on
Wednesday. Copeland finished second in a national youth writing contest  
with
her essay "Maddy Goes to the Zoo." 

ABOUT THE AWARD:
The  Youth Writing contest promotes Braille literacy and excellence in
creative  writing. Contestants were required to hand emboss their entries
using  either the slate and stylus or a Braille writer (no computer  
generated
Braille was accepted). Entries were judged on creativity and  quality of
Braille. The NFB writers' division encourages all blind people  to adopt a
"can-do" attitude and learn the skills that will enable them to  live full,
productive and independent lives. (Source: National Federation  of the 
Blind)

OWATONNA - Megan Copeland's short story  writing career is off to a solid
start. 

The eight-year-old from  McKinley Elementary school won second place in the
elementary school  (grades 1-6) short story category of the Youth Writing
Contest of the  National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Writers' Division. 
She
is the  daughter of Jennifer and Rian Copeland. The announcement was made
July 5 at  the NFB's annual convention in Orlando, Fla. 

Megan, who was born  totally blind due to septo-optic dysplasia, began
writing stories last  year. Her third story, titled "Maddy Goes to the Zoo,"
was entered in the  Youth Writing Contest at the suggestion of Megan's
Braille teacher, Mary  Ann Honeycutt. 

In the story, a bored Maddy goes to the zoo looking for  an adventure. She
tries to play with the elephants, but they don't want to  play. She then
plays with the lions, only to find out later that the lions  agree to play
with her only because they want to eat her.

It took  Megan two weeks to write the second-place story. The Copelands 
found
out  about the honor while vacationing in northern Minnesota. 

"We were very  excited," Jennifer said. "It was a national competition. She
has quite the  imagination."

Along with being an active writer, Megan reads a  lot.

"I love to read, especially when we are driving up to our cabin,  which is a
four-hour drive," Megan said.
The Copelands have found  several good avenues for books in Braille. 

"Thankfully with the  Internet we can find them," Jennifer said. "She also
gets free books from  the American Action Fund."

Megan will be spending a couple weeks at the  Minnesota State Academy for 
the
Blind camp. During the school year, she  attends McKinley. Megan will have
Kayla Davis is third grade this fall.  Megan's school day at McKinley starts
with one hour of education in Braille  and other non-visual skills from
Honeycutt. She then joins her classmates  for the rest of the day. By the 
end
of second grade, she had mastered all  of the Braille contractions. She 
loves
Judy Blume's books and the Junie B.  Jones series.

"We find that mainstream schools work very well,"  Jennifer said.

Megan will receive a cash prize of $15 and the chance to  be published in
"Slate and Style," the quarterly literary magazine.
And  how will she spend the award money?

"I plan to buy some candy," she  said. 

The annual contest promotes Braille literacy and excellence in  creative
writing. Despite strong evidence that Braille literacy  significantly
improves a blind person's ability to obtain employment and  advanced 
degrees,
only 10 percent of America's blind children are taught to  read it.

Derek Sullivan can be reached at 444-2372.

Block quote  end

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_______________________________________________
Writers  Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org  <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>

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