Pictured are Kent State University at Trumbull English
instructors James Canacci (far left) and Ana Wetzl
(far right) with Excite to Write winners Hope Weckerly (left),
Gabriel Cuddy (center) and Ashley Wolanzyk.

Kent State University at Trumbull English instructors Ana Wetzl, Ph.D., and James Canacci have announced the winners of the inaugural Excite to Write program, an essay writing contest geared toward area high school juniors, seniors and honor students.

First-place honors went to Ashley Wolanzyk, a junior at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, for her piece titled, "Breaking Through the Bubble: The Catcher in the Rye." Gabriel Cuddy, a senior at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, took second place with "Bias in News: An Unnecessary Practice."

Honorable mention went to Hope Weckerly, a senior at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, for "Building Construction in the Fire Industry," and to Kayla Medzie, a junior at Champion High School for "The Tale of the Great Despair."

All submitted works were reviewed by Kent State Trumbull English faculty and tutors, with reviewers having no knowledge of the author before or after reading the piece.

"Excite to Write exists to recognize the excellent work produced by student writers before they enter college because good writing skills matter and should be rewarded," Wetzl says. "The program also looks to strengthen Kent State Trumbull's connection with local high school students, who make up most of its student body."

Canacci notes that the program does not create additional work for teachers or students, as all submissions were papers that students had already written for one of their regular English courses.

Wetzl and Canacci thanked Trumbull Career and Technical Center teachers Charmayne Polan, Melissa Sydlowski and Katie Wright and Champion High School teacher Jennifer Showron for their assistance with the program.