Johnston High Schoolers: Win $1K in Writing Contest

For the past 11 years, the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation has awarded money and prizes to those who place in their annual writing contest.

The 12th annual writing contest is in honor of Katie DeCubellis, a 13-year-old student from Narragansett who loved to write. DeCubellis was killed by a drunken driver on October 29, 1999.

(Photo via Kdmf.org)

DeCubellis’ mother, Meg DeCubellis, said this contest is a way to keep her daughter’s spirit alive and carry on her legacy after she died.

“As the years progressed, we were fortunate enough to receive an outpouring of support and the writing contest is one way for us to give back to others and also raise awareness on important topics,” said Meg DeCubellis in a press release.

Positive Change is the writing topic for this year’s contest. Students are asked to create a negative situation and find a way to turn the story around and make it positive.

Monetary awards will be presented to those who place:

First place: $1,000

Second place: $500

Third place: $350

Honorable mention: $100.

The winners’ names and their writing entries will be displayed at Warwick Mall.

Entry is free and students can submit as many different works, 1 to 4 pages long, as they wish. Short stories, essays and personal narratives are accepted. Check out more information on the KDMF writing contest rules.

Submit entries to the following address:

KDMF Creative Writing Contest

c/o Joel S. Chase

300 Metro Center Boulevard

Suite 150A

Warwick, RI 02886

An award winning journalist will serve as a celebrity judge for the contest.

Bruce DeSilva won the Pulitzer Prize, and his work has been published in The New York Times sunday Book Review, Publishers Weekly, The Strand Magazine and more.

“In recent years we have been fortunate to get highly acclaimed writers to oversee the contest and the students who participate tell us the judges inspire them to be better writers,” said KDMF President Joel Chase in a press release.

The KDMF will announce via social media the date of the start of the contest. Entry deadline is Friday, March, 27.

Winners will be announced on Monday, May 18 at the Warwick Mall at 7 p.m.

The contest is sponsored by AAA of New England.

Visit the KDMF awards website to learn more about the contest and annual scholarship.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

View image | gettyimages.com