WINNERS TO ATTEND TUITION-FREE SUMMER WRITING CAMP
Columbia -- Lt. Governor Bob Peeler will unveil a new wrinkle to the seventeen year old Lieutenant Governor's Writing Awards Program during the winner's ceremony Wednesday morning. Beginning this summer, program winners will be invited to attend a three-day young writers workshop where they will receive instruction from college level educators.
The camp was first conceived of by Dr. Peter Mitchell, President of Columbia College, who witnessed the success of the Lieutenant Governor's Writing Awards Program over the years and broached Peeler about the possibility of Columbia College hosting a winner's workshop. Mitchell offered to provide facilities, faculty and support staff for the program if Peeler could assist in obtaining the necessary financial support from the private sector.
Peeler enlisted the aid of the state's business community who asked nothing of their contributions save the students be given a first class experience. Thanks to their generous support, the three day, two night program will be made available to all 204 of the winning students at no cost.
During the camp, students will attend a variety of classes including creative writing, technique, and method. Each student will receive one-on-one classroom attention where they will participate in a variety of writing exercises designed to cultivate and enhance their abilities. Said Peeler, "This is an excellent way not only to recognize these students for their excellence in writing, but to encourage and foster the development of their unique talents. Regardless of the career paths these young people one day choose, writing will play a major role in their life. Whether it's something as complicated as drafting a contract or as simple as key-punching an e-mail, the skills they acquire now will work for them well into the future."
The writing awards program was initiated by Lt. Governor Nancy Stevenson and because of the success of the program, every successive lieutenant governor has continued it. This marks the second year in a row Peeler has made additions to the seventeen year old program. Last year, Peeler opened the competition to private schools so that all fifth and eighth grade students in South Carolina would have a chance to participate. This year a record 110,000 students submitted essays in the contest.
Dates for the first annual camp will be released in the weeks to come and further details will be elaborated upon when the 204 winners of the 1996 Writing Awards travel to Columbia, Wednesday, March 12, to be honored by the Lt. Governor at 11:00a.m. in the Godbold Auditorium on Columbia College Campus.