The judging panel for the 2023 Okanagan Young Writers’ Awards has announced the finalists for the annual student literary contest.

Okanagan Publishing House’s second annual awards aim to promote excellence in writing at the high school and early college level. Submissions for the awards were open to people aged 14-19.

More than 40 submissions were received from nearly 20 different schools. The panelists chose the following finalists in the poetry and short story categories:

Poetry:

• Ruby Leavitt, J.L. Crowe Secondary

• Noemie Shirrer, Okanagan Mission Secondary

• Courtney Westfall, 91´ó»ÆѼ Secondary

• Lucy Witteman, W.L. Seaton Secondary

• Ray Davie, 91´ó»ÆѼ Secondary

• Alice Melikhanov, Heritage Christian Online

• Savannah Corcoran, Vernon Secondary

Short story:

• Jaidyn Danyluk, Jackson Secondary

• Anna Beyer, W.L. Seaton Secondary

• Selynn Choo, Vernon Secondary

• Ray Davie, 91´ó»ÆѼ Secondary

• Alice Melikhanov, Heritage Christian Online

• Rory Macpherson, George Elliot Secondary

• Betty Rempel, Charles Bloom Secondary

The judging panel features some of the region’s finest, including Kerry Gilbert of Okanagan College Vernon campus, Jeremy Beaulne of Okanagan College Penticton campus, Jeremy Lanaway of Okanagan College Vernon campus, Jadon Dick, Okanagan Publishing House editor-in-chief, and Robert Humphries, a local published poet.

All finalists will have the opportunity to be published digitally and in print by Okanagan Publishing House in its Best of the 2023 OYWA Collection, with proceeds from sales going to next year’s competition.

In addition to having their work published, there is a cash scholarship for the winners provided by The Vernon Morning Star. The top three writers in each category will also receive medallions by The Trophy Den, and will get to take part in a public reading hosted by Okanagan Publishing House in February.

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