ROUND LAKE -- Essay writing may be a chore for most students.
But for a small group of students at Round Lake-Brewster High School, the assignment doesn't induce cringes; it brings opportunities, offering teens a creative outlet and the chance to see their names in print.
Essays written by 29 of the eighth- through 12th-graders in Shari Nelson's English classes have been selected for publication in an anthology printed by Creative Communication, which host thrice-yearly contests for students in essay and poetry writing.
"It's just a neat opportunity," Nelson said. "I've been published many times and I know what a thrill it is when you see something in print. ... It gives them such a thrill. It gives them a high just like winning a basketball game."
Because of the high number and quality of submissions from RL-B students, the school has also been given Creative Communication's Writing Achievement Award for fall 2009, an honor reserved for schools where 15 or more students submit winning entries.
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The distinction allows RL-B High School to apply for one of 50 language arts grants awarded to schools across the United States and Canada.
"The fact that you have numerous students accepted says a lot about your school," Nelson read from the letter of acceptance. "We have found that schools with excellent language arts programs have a much higher percentage of their students accepted."
This isn't the first time the school has been honored; Nelson said students enter poetry and essay contests each year, and the school has won several awards during the past five years.
Nelson's assignment for her students was simple: write a short essay about anything that is of interest to teens.
"One of them wrote about their family (that) has a grape vineyard, they talked about things like texting and friends and how technology affects teens, sports, buying new clothes ... and choosing a college," she detailed.
Winner Roshay Reimers wrote about autumn, while Benjamin Postma gave his thoughts on teens and entertainment.
Senior Ally Cross wrote about volleyball.
"It's my last year this year, so I thought I'd write about that, commemorating my experience," she said.
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Cross, who has been published in the anthology before, said she enjoys poring over the books Nelson stores in her classroom. "To look through and see your friends in them is kind of cool," she said.
The majority of her 57 students submitted their assignments for the contest.
"A lot of kids have the opportunity to have their works published," Nelson said. "It's been a fun thing to do. It works very well with the English curriculum."
