PHS Student Win Writing Awards | Community Spirit

HOUSTON COUNTY, GA – Perry High School sophomore Eli Guidry won Alliance for Young Writers awards this month.  He received three Silver Keys for three short stories he entered into the 2013 Scholastic Art and Writing competition (SAWC).  Eli and his English teacher, Susan Bray, have been invited to an awards banquet on Mar. 23, 2013, at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Atlanta campus.

The SAWC is celebrating its 90th year and is widely considered the most prestigious teen writing competition in America.  Eli’s stories, listed by category and title, are:

·         Flash Fiction, “Impact,”

·         Humor, “Corporate Policy,” and

·         Short Story, “           Call Me Mona.”

"Creative writing is not merely a social artifact nor is it simply a reflection of contemporary culture,” said Eli.  “Creative writing involves building something out of nothing through the sheer force of human will; a singular act of creation.  I would like to give credit to the English Departments at both Perry Middle and Perry High for providing me with the foundation necessary to write, compete and win on a national level.”

The Georgia Writing Region competition is sponsored and administrated by SCAD. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have an impressive legacy dating back to 1923 and noteworthy past winners such as Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford and Joyce Carol Oates. 

The regional awards consist of Gold and Silver Keys and honorable mention.  The Gold Key is the highest level of achievement which is awarded to approximately 7 – 10 percent of all regional submissions.  Eli’s Silver Key award is given to only approximately 10 – 15 percent of all regional entries. And approximately 15 – 20 percent of regional submissions receive Honorable Mention Awards for artistic potential.

Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Perry High is located at 1307 North Avenue.  Dr. Darryl Albritton serves as principal.  For more information about this award, please visit:  http://www.artandwriting.org/alliance/partners-regionalprogram/.