Rye Neck Students Earn Multiple Awards In Writing Competition

MAMARONECK, NY — Rye Neck High School students Michaela Alsiadi, Catherine Sykes and Naomi Young were recognized with awards at the 2021 Hudson-to-Housatonic Writing Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition.

Alsiadi, a sophomore, earned an honorable mention for her short story “Death is Knocking at My Door,” which details a young woman who goes through the stages of grief surrounding her own death; Sykes, a sophomore, earned an honorable mention for her humor piece and Young, a senior, earned a Silver Key for her short story “Carnaval,” which explores the delicate psychological balance of its gifted narrator.

Teacher Melinda Merkel said that what makes these young women successful writers is not just their creativity, but their work ethic.

“They all pursue their love of writing outside of the four walls of the classroom and understand that good writing is a function of effort and care, of sculpting meaning,” she said.

This year, nearly 1,700 works were submitted to the regional level for consideration by a panel of novelists, editors, teachers, poets, librarians, journalists and other creative professionals. The students’ work was recognized as some of the most outstanding works submitted from among their peers, according to the competition.

Presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program identifies students with exceptional artistic and literary talents.