High School Writers Are Awarded at Chesterfield Arts

senior Nick Schasch is tall and built like a football player. So when he stood at the podium to read his prize-winning poem, it came as no surprise it was titled "Football."

The poem took first place in the The 2010 Phyllis Corbet High School Writing Contest. Winners were announced at a reception Wednesday night at .

Second place went to  sophomore Hannah Wiedner for her short story "Revenge of the Girlfriend." The third place spot was awarded to Parkway South High School sophomore Tory Sparks for her poem "First."

In only its second year, the Chesterfield Arts High School writing contest as grown considerably.

"We had 50 entries last year, and three times as many this year, which is fantastic," founding board member Maurice (Bud) Hirsch told the crowd.

With all those entries, judging became even more difficult.

"It was hard to pick the winners because they were all so good," Hirsch said.

Each of the top three winners and 15 students who won honorable mentions read their poems or short stories to the crowd. All expressed similar emotions about the event.

"I'm really excited," Schasch said. "There were a lot of good entries."

"It was exciting and nerve wracking, but fun," Wiedner said.

"It's a really exciting, awesome experience," Sparks said.

Each of the 15 honorable mentions received a certificate and a $20 gift certificate to any class at Chesterfield Arts. The top three finishers received a certificate, tickets for them and their families to Chesterfield Arts Art Feast at the , and cash prizes. First place received $150, second received $100 and third received $50.

There's more to the contest than just winning prizes, however.

"It's that left brain, right brain thing," Hirsch said. "To be successful in any career, you need to know how to write and to speak. To learn that at this age—learning the technical side of writing—is a huge step up for college." 

For the students, their experiences were personal.

"I don't do much writing," Schasch said,"but when you write about something you love, it really comes through."

Wiedner departed from the others with her theme, which involved revenge and murder. She drew inspiration from another short story.

"Actually, after reading (Edgar Allan) Poe's 'Cask of Amontillado,' I wanted to write something like that," she said.

After the readings, Hirsch took a moment to explain the "right brain thing."

"Learning the other side, using what you observe from daily life and putting it in a poem or stories—to be creative and think in new ways—to have that ability—wow!"