Four Hinsdale Central Students Are Norman Mailer Writing Award Semi-Finalists!

There were only 19 students across the nation who were selected as 2014 Normal Mailer Writing Award for Creative Nonfiction semi-finalists.  What's the probability that a student from Hinsdale Central would be among them?

Would you believe that FOUR of the nineteen national semi-finalists were from Hinsdale Central?

Imagine my excitement and surprise when I found out that Julian Kanagy (Class of '14), Emily Morse ('14), Dania Noghnogh ('14), and Caitlin Wong ('14) were all selected.

I don't want to brag too much, but many of other semi-finalists come from schools that have names like "South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities" or "School for Advanced Studies."  And while the "Governor's School" had two semifinalists, no other school matched Hinsdale Central's four.  Pretty impressive for a "normal public school."

This is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating the strength and skill of our students and the caring, expert guidance of English teachers.  All four of these students were enrolled in the Honors Seminar in Writing Course.  Emily's teacher was Angelique Burrell.  Julian, Dania, and Caitlin were all students of Jared Friebel.  Of course Angelique and Jared would say that these students were coached and supported and inspired by all of their English teachers in their four years at Central.

This isn't the first time Hinsdale Central students have been recognized for this prestigious award.  Read about past students' success here and here.

According to the Award's website, the nonfiction essays were "read by national panels of teachers and writers.  They will be judged by how well they achieve several qualities, including the artful treatment of subject matter; originality; quality of insight, image, voice, and style; artful arrangement of elements and materials; and overall aesthetic, emotional or intellectual effect."  That's a pretty high standard!

If you haven't already seen the news, one Central English teacher, Andy Jones, just won first prize (which includes a trip to New York, a chance to rub shoulders with authors Billy Collins and Don DeLillo, and $5000) in a national writing contest for high school English teachers.  Read about that here.

The writing of Julian, Dania, Caitlin, and Emily (along with many other excellent Hinsdale Central student writers) can be found in the book that the English Department publishes each year: "The Best Nonfiction Writing Hinsdale Central 2014."  Read about the most recent volume here.  Let me know if you'd like to purchase a copy.

Congratulations to Julian Kanagy (Class of '14), Emily Morse ('14), Dania Noghnogh ('14), and Caitlin Wong ('14)!  I look forward to hearing about their next awards.

Get Caught Reading a Banned Book This Week!

It's Banned Books Week in the Hinsdale Central Library.  Want to read a Banned Book?  Here's a visual catalog search of Banned Books created by Central librarians.

Here are a couple English teachers, who are part of the promotion for the week, caught reading.  All photos by HC librarian Leah Giarritano.

Rob Aurich

MIchael Smith

Erin Landry

Jill Tylk and Lauren Otahal

Hinsdale Central English Teacher Wins Huge National Writing Prize

Photo Credit: Wyckoff-Tweedy

Andy Jones, pictured to the left his distinctive yearbook photo from last year, just won the Norman Mailer Writing Award for High School Teachers.

Andy won this prestigious award with an essay entitled "The Inca Champions League."  It recounts an eventful hiking trip to Machu Picchu and a soccer game he played at 20,000 feet with local kids.  It's funny, serious, historically interesting, and gripping (in the soccer parts!)  At the same time it's a fascinating reflection about the value of traveling far afield.  Don't just take my word for it.  Read Andy's fabulous essay here.

Andy's award is more than a pat on the back.  The prize includes a paid trip to New York, a chance to rub shoulders with famous American writers like Billy Collins and Don DeLillo, and $5000. Read more about the award here at the award website.

Andy was a member of the Hinsdale Central English Department for six years.  This year he is continuing  his world-wide teaching odyssey with his wife and daughter.  He is currently an English teacher and basketball coach in Istambul, Turkey at Robert College.

Andy wrote a book titled Two Seasons In the Bubble: Living and Coaching Basketball in Bulgaria about a previous part of his teaching odyssey.  Read about the book here.  Read his interview with Kimberly Fornek in The Doings here.

According to the award website, "essays were judged by how well they achieve several qualities including the artful treatment of subject matter; originality; quality of insight, image, voice and style; artful arrangement of elements and materials; and overall aesthetic, emotional or intellectual effect."

This isn't Central's first recognition from this award.  Read about Hinsdale Central student success here,  here and here.

Congratulations to Andy!  I can't wait to see the next essay.

Erin Palmer honored by Walsworth Publishing

Last April I wrote about how two English teachers, Erin Palmer and Sue Grady, were asked to speak at the National Conference.  Last May I announced the beautiful new El Diablo yearbook created by Hinsdale Central yearbook students coached by Erin..

Now,  I just found out that Erin has recently been invited to teach a class at Walsworth Publishing "Idea Workshop" on September 23.  What an honor!

This invitation is another recognition that Erin is recognized as one of the most innovative and creative and professional yearbook advisers.

Congratulation to Erin!

From the Garden to the Plate at Hinsdale Central!

Quest Food Service's Betty Kujawa harvesting herbs
and vegetables from the new courtyard garden

A gorgeous harvest!

Check out the summer bounty harvested this week! These herbs and tomatoes were used today in the pesto sauce served today in the student cafeteria.

This garden is the brainchild of Hinsdale Central's Ecology Club, sponsored by English Teacher Cherise Lopez.   The Ecology Club and the garden have been great additions to the Hinsdale Central community.

Cherise received these pictures from Quest Food Service dietitian Krystle Ramos.

Read about The Ecology Club winning a recent  video contest award here.

Recent Hinsdale Alum Published in USA Today!

Medha Imam ('13) holding up today's USA Today

It's so great to hear about Hinsdale alums who go on to make an impact in the humanities.  It's even better when it happens when a student has just graduated recently.

So, I was so excited when Medha Imam ('13) stopped by my office today to deliver a copy of the current issue of the USA Today.  On page 4B was a story with her byline under the article titled,  "Theiel Fellowships get young entrepreneurs going."  See article here.

Medha is currently a student at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. At HC she was the editor of the Devils' Advocate.  I was lucky enough to be her teacher during her junior year and got to witness her emerging love for writing.  I've been a fan of her blog writing since.

I'm now regretting that I didn't ask Medha to sign the article for me when she stopped by.  There's no doubt that Medha has a very bright future in writing ahead of her.  Congratulations, Medha!

Just Published! The Best Nonfiction Writing 2014

   

The Best Nonfiction Writing Hinsdale Central 2014 has arrived!  Congratulations to the Honors Seminar in Writing team (Heather Fehrman, Jared Friebel, Angelique Burrell) for this FIFTH volume that showcases the excellent writing teaching that goes on across the department.

      This book collects a wide range of creative and thoughtful student writing. It's the product of countless hours of selection, editing, and proofreading by the students in last year's Honors Seminar in Writing and the three current English teachers assigned to teach Honors Seminar in Writing. 

      I'm proud to be part of this growing legacy in the English Department.  Years ago, the teachers who began this project envisioned a library shelf filled with volumes of excellent student writing.  We are well on our way!

The book serves as an inspiration for students, a source of model writing for teachers, and, as Angelique suggested in last year's book introduction, a "time capsule" for anyone who wants to know what Central students were thinking about in 2013 and 2014.

If you'd like to learn more or to purchase your own copy of the book contact me (dlange@hinsdale86.org) or Angelique (aburrell@hinsdale86.org)