Writers' Day Celebrates Authors, Present and Future

Other guest authors included: Mary Kate Cary, a former White House speechwriter, contributing editor of U.S. News and World Report, and mother of Annie ’13 and Gracie ’15; and Anthony Abbott, poet, novelist, and professor emeritus at Davidson College.

Each author shared how they became a writer. Cummings, author of the Red Kayak and other books for young people, wrote stories for herself as a child, started in newspapers while still in high school, and finally decided to try her hand at a book. In the midst of a successful academic career as a professor of English, Abbott found poetry to be an outlet for his feelings in the wake of family tragedy.

While majoring in international relations, Cary took a journalism class for fun, wrote for the college newspaper, and discovered after graduation her clips could win her a job. After working on President George H.W. Bush’s campaign, Cary was invited at the age of 25 to write for him in the White House, and speechwriting become her career. Today she not only has many clients she “ghosts” for, but also expresses her own voice in a blog. “I closely guard my digital reputation, because I know it will be out there forever,” says Cary—good advice for any aspiring NCS writer.

NCS Writers Awards 2010

NCS recognized its own rising authors in a Writers Day afternoon assembly for the Middle and Upper Schools (see list of honorees below). The day was capped by the distribution of the latest edition of HIE (Half in Earnest), NCS’ literary magazine. Congratulations to all of HIE’s hard-working editors and contributors. We expect to see you back at NCS speaking at a Writers Day in the future!

Tuckerman Prize
Julia Preston ’15 for “A Magnetic Needle”

Hyde Prize

Gabriela Wilson ‘10

The Alexa McMahon ’05 Writers’ Day Award

Jo Adams ’10 for “Laugh Lines”

Writers’ Prizes

Grade 7: Sidney Wilder, “Who Am I”

Grade 8: Tess Speranza, “Dear Adie”

Grade 9: Elizabeth Keto, “The House in Deep Snow”

Grade 10: Carolyn Gigot, “Three Poems”

Grade 11, Katie Mitchell, “I Never Called Myself a Child”

Koch Fellows

Anya Grenier ‘11

Sarah Norvell ‘11

Killip Fellow

Rose Pallone ‘11

Other Writing Honors and Awards 2009-2010

Bethesda Magazine’s YA Short Story Contest

Alice Kassinger ’10 for “The Descent” – Third Place

Elizabeth Lyford ’10 for “Apartment 503” – Honorable Mention

National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Katie Mitchell ’11 for “I Never Called Myself a Child” – Gold Key

Sigrid Dilley ’12 for “Murdered Nine Times” – Silver Key