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Awards Day 2023 (Photos are still being added so check back later! If you have photos you would like shared, please email dr.shantapatrick@gmail.com.
2023 Patron List
Thank you for your monetary and/or in-Kind donations!
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Mission
The mission of the Dr. Shanta McClurkin Patrick Creative Writing Contest is to nurture a love of writing for students in grades K-12 by inspiring, engaging and rewarding their efforts, creativity and use of imagination to produce quality works.
...and the Winners Are
Additional Information
Grand Prize Winner
London Hedges
Georgia Connections Academy
Eleventh Grade
Killer Espresso
Poetry Category
Elizabeth Alvarado
Richards Middle School
Sixth Grade
Summertime
Six-Word Story Category
Austyn Ackeret
Britt David Magnet Academy
Fourth Grade
Resilience is Key
K-2
First Place
Ava Simon
Britt David Magnet Academy
Kindergarten
Mary and the Diamond Fish
Second Place
Nyomi Traver
South Columbus Elementary School
Kindergarten
The Birthday Present
Third Place
Aubrey Marshall
Dimon Magnet Academy
Kindergarten
The Pretty Unicorn Who Had No Friends
3-5
First Place
Jacob Pitts
Waddell Elementary
Third Grade
The Life of a Golf Ball
Second Place
Jude Armstrong
Britt David Magnet Academy
Fifth Grade
Snow War
Third Place
Armani Tate
Dawson Elementary School
Fifth Grade
The Haunted Hotel
6-8
First Place
Aniyah Hinton
East Columbus Magnet Academy
Eight Grade
The Truth Behind Dark Fairies
Second Place
Priyanshu Biswal
Blackmon Road Middle School
Eighth Grade
Running Blind
Third Place
Karlie Riser
Eddy Middle School
Sixth Grade
My Journey Through the Savannah
9-12
First Place
Kate Greer
Columbus High School
Tenth Grade
Always Be Your Little Girl
Second Place
Zariah Muhammad
Northside High School
Tenth Grade
You Can’t Make an Omelet Without Breaking a Few Eggs
Third Place
Adriana Carrion
Jordan Vocational High School
Twelfth Grade
To the Sea
New Categories: Poetry and Six-Word Stories
Poetry Category Elizabeth Alvarado Richards Middle School Sixth Grade -SUMMERTIME
Summertime
By: Elizabeth Alvarado
Hot and humid
Sunny skies
Flip flops flapping
Barbeque smoke-filled air
Sticky red popsicle juice running down my arm.
The blaring tunes from ice cream trucks
Kids laughing and running through the sprinkler
Water balloon fights with my siblings
Cannonballs in cool pools
No boring school, no pointless homework, no mean teachers
Making sandcastles, collecting seashells, hot sand scorching my toes
Fireworks booming, loud and sparkly
Late nights, sleeping in
Waiting for school to begin again
Summertime
Six-Word Story Category Austyn Ackeret Britt David Magnet Academy Fourth Grade - RESILIENCE IS KEY
She failed
She trained
She accomplished
Mary and the Diamond Fish
K-2 1st Place Ava Simon Britt David Magnet Academy Kindergarten
Mary and the Diamond Fish – by Ava Rae Simon
A little girl named Mary and her three friends – Cupcake, Ledda, and Charlie – went to the park for a mermaid-cat themed birthday party.
The park was next to a lake made of glitter sparkle water, and swimming inside of it were fish made of diamonds!
But hiding in a bush was a super bad guy named Stranjah (because he’s a stranger). He had a fishing net and planned to CATCH the diamond fish and turn them into his jewelry!
Mary and her friends saw the bad guy and dressed up as diamond fish and swam up to Stranjah to prank him.
Stranjah giggled as they swam up to him and dipped his net into the water to catch
them! But Mary and her friends were too smart and cut a hole in the net and ruined it FOREVER!
And the diamond fish were happy, and Mary and her friends ate lots of rainbow cake and watched unicorn fireworks all night long.
The end.
The Truth Behind Dark Fairies
6-8 1st Place Aniyah Hinton East Columbus Magnet Academy Eight Grade
The Truth Behind Dark Fairies
BY: Anaya Hinton
Hi, my name is Ruby. I’m from a far away place called Fairy Kingdom. It was a beautiful place where fairies lived until one stormy night, stormier than usual, the lights were flickered.
When the final light flickered out, I saw a tall black figure in it said, “I'm after you and your whole village.”
Then the lights turned back on. After that I went straight to the library, grabbed a book on wild and Dark Fairies and rushed home before my mom got there. I got home just in time and ran to my room to hide the book. I took a big breath and went into the living room to greet my
mother.
After we ate, my mom fell asleep and I went to my room and got the book from under my pillow and started to read about the Dark Fairies. It said Dark Fairies' weakness is light dust, but not just any light dust. It has to be royal light dust.
For a moment I thought, “At this point I thought I should just quit.” But I couldn’t. I had top save my kingdom. I hopped up out of my bed and ran to my laptop where I could find Light Fairy Queen dust. It said the dust could be found in the mixed fairy kingdom. I asked myself why it would be in the mixed fairy kingdom. Then I looked up information on the mixed fairy kingdom. I was shocked when I saw it said the light fairy queen used her dust to keep the kingdoms
balanced. One touch could injure a whole kingdom of fairies. I knew what I had to do. I packed my things and wrote a note to my mom. It said “Mom, I’m sixteen now and I decided to start my adventure early. So, this is goodbye for now. I will send letters of my journey.” I flew around a little bit. My wings got tired quickly because it was very windy like another storm was coming. I walked to a nearby apartment. It was dark and it looked abandoned. I was too tired to walk anywhere else so I closed my eyes and went to sleep in one of the bedrooms.
An hour later I felt something breathing on me. I was too scared to open my eyes so I slowly moved right and when I fell off t he bed, I opened my eyes and ran outside. It was still dark and I was still very tired but I had to keep going. I reached a library and I was happy and surprised that the library was open.
The librarian said, “What is a young lady like you doing out this late don’t you know Dark Fairies are out at this time”.
I replied, “I'm here for a map and I will be on my way.”She said, “Oh ok, come this”. As she walked, she asked, “Why do you need a map?”
I answered “I'm starting a new adventure and I need to know where I'm going.”
She said “Aren't you a little too young for an adventure?”
I answered, “No, I am not too young.”
She finally gave me the map and I paid and flew out the door. it was still dark so I usedmy light power to navigate.
It took two days to get to the mixed kingdom. It took a lot of work. I never gave upthough. I kept going. When I made it there, I started to look for the light dust. I asked everyonethere and they finally told me it was in the mainland of the mixed kingdom. Of course, that
person asked a lot of questions like, “Why do you need to know?” As I flew away, without answering, I noticed only some of them had wings and powers. It was only younger adults and teenagers. I didn't think it was fair. When I finally reached the light dust there was barely any. I came to the conclusion that
only special people get magic. I left the dust alone and I didn’t take it because they already had it hard. I flew away and started to think of another way to protect my kingdom. I was thinking about finding the queen, but I didn't have time so I decided to go to the dark kingdom. When I decided that, I began wondering why t hey wanted me. I went to sleep that night with a lot of stuff on my mind.
I continued my travels to the dark kingdom the next morning. I traveled through the forest. I got a lot of cuts and began losing a lot of blood. I kept going until I fainted. A dark fairy who I later learned was named Olivia helped me. When I woke up I was scared because it was dark and I felt very weak so I couldn't defend myself. That's when Olivia came back in. I jumped and injured myself more. She was very nice and she was the same age as me. She gave me a
healing potion. I never knew dark fairies had healing potions. All the other fairies said they were evil because they use their dark magic for evil.
Olivia then asked, “What’s your name?”
I answered, “Oh, I'm Ruby”
We talked and got to know each other more. She was happy that she wasn't the only one that was sixteen. She was mad she was younger than everyone else. She had no friends or anything. She then gave me a big hug. “The healing potion should work in about a week or two.
You can stay here till then and I will keep you in hiding, because if the other fairies see you they will take you because you're special.”
I said, “Ok,” but I wondering what she meant by me being “special.”
Shortly after that I fell asleep. I had another weird dream. A dream about a dark fairy.
The fairy in the dream said, “You are close. I can sense you and I will find you. Or you can give yourself up and I will spare your village.”
I woke up and asked myself why these dark fairies want a light fairy. I can't do anything but make light. That's all. Olivia then walked in my room and was wondering what was wrong. I hoped I could trust her.
I told her “I had a dream about a dark fairy. They said if I give myself up then they will leave my kingdom alone.”
Olivia said, “Oh, I can try to convince them not to hurt the Light Kingdom, but I don't know if it will work. I also don't know why they want you.”
“It’s okay, Olivia, they need me for something so they can’t harm me. Now I just need you to figure out what.”
Olivia replied, “I will find out so that I can help my new friend.”
Olivia gave me some more healing potion then left to go find out why I'm so special.
A few hours later Olivia came back with good and bad news. The good news is that I was a light fairy princess which means my mother is the queen somehow, which is crazy because I have no powers but the ability to make light. The bad news was that the dark fairies
want more power so that they can destroy mixed fairies and get a bigger kingdom.
I asked, “Why do they want to destroy mixed fairies? What did mixed fairies do to them?”
Olivia answered “I don’t know, but when you get fully healed we can dress you like adark fairy and go see why or get clues.”
“When will I be fully healed?”
“Since you're a light princess probably one more day.”
Olivia went to gaze at the stars and I wrote to my mom about all the crazy stuff that had happened.
I wrote, “Hi, mom! You won't believe all the crazy stuff that happened. I made it to the Dark Kingdom. I have a friend whose name is Olivia. She's nice and she helped me. She also told me that I am a light princess. Bye! I'll write more about my journey later.”
I went to give the paper to Olivia, so she could mail it out when she came back, but when she came back she had cut up wings. She came in the door and passed out on the floor. I hurried in, closed the door, and picked her up and laid her on the couch. Suddenly, my handsstarted to glow when I touched her wings. I had no idea I had healing powers. I healed her
wings and covered her up and went to sleep shortly after that. In the morning I checked on her wings. They weren’t cut up anymore, but instead of them being dark in shadow they were light.
They looked like they had crystals on them.
She woke up and all she said was that we were not safe there and we had to move fast.
Then, she added, “Now they're looking for us.” She didn’t even notice her wings. I don't even know why her wings changed like that.
She packed up her stuff very quickly and she checked the doors and windows to make sure no one was out there. She grabbed my arm and flew very fast. We didn't make it far, because her wings had only just been healed. We fell near the Dark Fairies’ kingdom. I healed
her wings again, but they had become dark again. We started walking until we got hungry.
Luckily, Olivia brought food. That's when I remembered I left the letter I wanted to give my mom at Olivia's house. I tried to go back multiple times but Olivia stopped me EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Olivia said, “We are going to go to the light kingdom, so you don't have to worry. You will get to see her in person to tell her everything, but right now we have to keep moving or we’re both gonna get hurt.”
I replied, “Okay, let's continue. But after we eat.”
“Okay,” she said while handing me an apple. We both ate and started walking. It was getting dark, so we flew for a while till we found a shelter where we could hide from the dark fairies. They’re stronger at night. They also travel
fast, so we couldn't stay in one place for long. We made a plan to travel at night and sleep in the morning and she said I could use my light powers to guide us. We started to move slowly, because we were both were super tired. When I fell down in some leaves it was morning. Olivia moved me to a tree and she quickly fell asleep.
After that night we made it to the Mixed Kingdom. It was so late. It was worse than last time. No one had powers, everyone was fighting, and the kids were scared. When Olivia saw this she flew up a little bit and then yelled as loud as she could “STOP FIGHTING! CANT YALL SEE THE POOR KIDS ARE SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES AND ALL Y'ALL ARE DOING IS MAKING IT WORSE!” Everyone then got quiet and started mumbling to themselves. I think she got nervous or something because she started going in circles like she was about to faint. I flew up to her and helped her back to the ground, so she wouldn’t get hurt any more.
Then suddenly everyone went back to their houses with their kids and apologized. It was so weird. Then I asked Olivia if she was okay. She said she was, but was just scared and she
didn't think before she acted. We walked to one of the mixed fairies’ houses and knocked on the door. The girl that came out was almost the same age as me and Olivia, maybe a year older than us. She seemed nice and she let us in. We got to know her. We asked why she was alone
and what was up with all the charts over the walls. She said she was studying for a way to bring magic to their village, so it wouldn’t be so sad and full of hate. The charts were helping with thepotions. Olivia asked what her name was and she said her name was Nae.
Olivia asked, “Can we stay here for a while to help you restore power, because that's why we came to the Mixed Fairy kingdom.”
Nae replied, “Sure. Plus I need a little help. I'm stuck.”
I replied, “What are you stuck on? Maybe we can help.”
She said, “I'm stuck on a spell that makes you fly. I don't know where to find a Charm Fairy Scale. I don't even know what a charm fairy is.”
Olivia asked, “What would you even need a Charm Fairy Scale for?”
I said, “I heard that Charm Fairies live in the sky, because they have very strong wings. I also heard that once a year on a cloudy day their scales fall from the sky, but it's only four scales. Plus I don't even know if it's true. This is what my mom told me when I was five, so I really don’t know if it’s true, but the good news is that if it's real it’s going to happen tomorrow.
Then we can go to the Light Kingdom to meet my mom. Of course after, we’ll help save your kingdom by finishing the flying spell, so let's get some rest.”
IN THE MORNING
Nae and Olivia woke me up very happily yelling at the top of their lungs. Shortly after I woke up fully. They both were talking at the same time. This is the first time I've seen Olivia smile like this since I have known her. They finally stopped talking at the same time and just
showed me what they were so happy about. It was the Charm Fairies Scales. They got all four. Olivia said, ''We couldn’t sleep, so we were up all night waiting for their scales to fall. We got all of them, which means we can use one for the potion and use the rest for friendship
bracelets, so that way we can remember our journeys together.”
Me and Nae both agreed, so me and Nae worked on the potion while Olivia made us the bracelets. But it turned out I missed a huge part in the story I was told when I was younger and that was that they can teleport fairies and communicate with the fairies that have them. When I figured that out I ran as fast as I could to Olivia to show her the book that shows if someone has the Scale and they’re thinking about a place, then they teleport there. But when I got to her it
was too late. She had left. She left two of the bracelets behind and I quickly grabbed them and gave one to Nae and put one on. They were so gorgeous. They were really helpful, and we
found Olivia shortly after we figured out how to use them. Olivia still didn’t know how to use it so we helped her and we completed the spell. We all teleported to the sky. I made it rain by pouring the spell in the sky. Luckily, everyone was outside because the news spread fast and everyone got their powers.
With the new bracelets, Olivia teleported home and I teleported home. We each used our bracelets to communicate with each other and promised we would meet again. We poured the potion in the sky and it rained down on the kingdoms and everyone received their powers.
But that was not the end of the dark fairies; they are still after me.
Always Be Your Little Girl
9-12 1st Place Kate Greer Columbus High School Tenth Grade
Always Be Your Little Girl
Today is going to be a great day! I can feel it! Today is the day where my school goes to visit nursing homes. We visit them and hear about stories they have to share. I’ve been looking forward to my senior year just for this moment. I’ve always been interested in learning about people’s pasts.
I find my best clothes to wear and get ready. I run out of the door and forget to eat breakfast because I’m so excited. On my way to school, I think about questions that I want to ask
them. I cannot stop smiling because of how excited I am.
When I pull up to school, we are told to meet in front of the cafeteria to get on the buses.
We get to the nursing home and I walk down the hall and see an older man sitting in a room by himself. I knocked on the door and asked if I could go in. He looked up at me, but he did not say anything.
I walked in and said, “Hello, my name is Nova. I’m here from Rockwood High School, what is your name?”
He looked at me, but still did not say anything. I started towards the door when I heard, “Nova.” I turned around, “That is your name, right?”
“Yes sir,” I responded.
“I’m sorry, I’m not used to anyone coming to visit me. Come sit down.”
I walk over and sit down in a red velvet chair.
“I’m sorry that you don’t get many visitors,” I say.
“It’s okay, I came here looking for someone and never found her.”
“Oh, was she a love interest?” I ask.
“No, she was my daughter. She got taken away from me when she was 10.”
“If you don’t mind telling me, how did that happen?” I ask.
“I normally don’t like talking about it, but I’ll tell you. We lived in a small town in Germany. My wife, Lucy, had gotten pregnant with a baby girl. My wife had sadly passed away during birth. Inamed my daughter Lucy after her mother. I had raised her for 10 years, but I was not a good father. I did not do what I needed to provide for Lucy. We were homeless because I was unemployed. Children services had found out, and they took my daughter away. I tried to fight them, but I didn’t have any evidence to prove that I could take care of her. After five years, I fixed myself up and heard that they had taken her to live with a family in the United States. I found out that she had moved here, in Charlotte, North Carolina. I decided to move here and see if I could find her. No one knew the name Lucy Fischer. Her family had changed her name, but I didn’t know what name they changed it to. I searched for her, but I was never able to find her. I searched for 40 years, but now I am not allowed to live on my own. They moved me here, and I never got to see her again. I just hope that she is doing okay and is happy. I wish that I could have been the father that she deserved.”
He looked down at the ground, seeming like he was about to cry. I didn’t know what else to do, so I hugged him and said, “I’m sorry, but I’m sure that she is doing fine.”
He looked behind him and asked me, “Do you want to see a picture of her?”
I nodded my head and he got an old picture from the table next to his bed.
He handed me the picture and said, “This is the only picture that I have of her. This was when she was five. She was the cutest child.”
I looked at the picture and it seemed familiar. It seemed as though I had seen it before. I thought that it was just one of those deja vu moments so I didn’t think anything of it.
My teacher came in and told me that it was time for us to head back to the school. I told Mr. Fischer goodbye, he smiled, and I left. On my way to the bus, I realized that I had seen that photo before. I remember that when I was younger, I went into my parents room. I found this box hidden in their closet and decided to go through it. I found an old picture, and I’m pretty sure that it’s the same one that Mr. Fischer had.
As soon as we got back to the school, I rushed home. I ran up to my parents room. I found the box and started to go through it. I found the exact same picture that Mr. Fischer had. I took the picture and waited for my mom to get home. When she pulled up, I immediately ran out of the door.
“Mom! I need to talk to you about something really important so hurry please!”
“It’s nice to see you too, Nova,” my mom responded.
When she got inside, I had her sit down at the table. I showed her the picture.
“Where did you get this from? Did you go through my stuff?”
She gave me a stern look.
“I did, but that’s besides the point,” I answered. “You know how I went to the nursing home today?” I asked.
“Yes, you couldn’t stop talking about it. Now get to your point before I punish you for going through my stuff,” my mother said.
“Well, I stopped in a room with a man in it. He was very quiet and wouldn’t talk to me, so as I was leaving, he called my name. He told me that he wasn’t used to having any visitors and told me to sit down. He told me this story about how he had his daughter taken away when she was 10. He said how he found out that a family adopted her and that she moved here, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He came here to find her, but he was never able to because they changed her name. Her original name was Lucy Fischer. He then showed me that exact same photo that you are now holding in your hand.”
My mom started to cry, and she wouldn’t look away from the photo.
“Nova, there was a lot that I didn’t tell you about my childhood. I don’t think I need to tell you anything more about it now because you know most of the story. I was taken away from my father as a little and they changed my name to Aria Davis. After school tomorrow, we are going back to that nursing home. If he really is my dad, I want to see him.”
After school the next day, my mom and I went back to the nursing home.
“Hi, I’m Aria Davis, I am here to visit Stefan Fischer.”
“He is in room 114,” the nursing lady said.
My mom and I went towards that room. Right before my mom was about to knock, she stopped in her tracks.
She turned and looked at me, “Nova, I don’t think I can do this. I’m too nervous. What if he doesn’t like how I’ve turned out?”
I gave my mom a hug and said, “Don’t be nervous, you can do this. He will love who you are. You have turned into a beautiful, strong, brave, and independent woman, he will be so proud
of you.”
She knocked on the door and walked in.
Mr. Fischer was sitting in the same chair that he was in yesterday. He turned and looked at my mom with wide eyes.
“Dad?” My mom asked.
“Lucy, is that you?” Mr. Fischer asked.
My mom ran to him and gave him a big hug.
“I’ve missed you so much my dear, Lucy.”
They both started to cry. They visited for a few hours and then decided to leave. As we were leaving,
Mr. Fischer said, “Thank you, Nova, for bringing my daughter back to me.”
I ran and gave him a hug. I had never met my real grandfather before, but I was happy that I finally was able to and that it was him.
My mom and I would go visit him everyday after school. After a few weeks of visiting with him, we got a phone call from the nursing home.
“Hello, is this Mrs. Aria Davis?”
“Yes, this is her,” my mom answered.
“I am so sorry to inform you, but Mr. Stefan Fischer passed away this morning.”
You could tell that my mother’s heart dropped, “Thank you for letting me know.”
I ran to my mom and we both started to cry.
A few days later, my mom went to his grave and told him, “I love you, daddy. I will always be your little girl.”
Dr. Shanta McClurkin Patrick Creative Writing Contest 2023!
2023 Contest Information
What: "Dr. Shanta McClurkin Patrick Creative Writing Contest". We are looking for original, fictional stories from students! Do you enjoy WRITING? Well, it’s YOUR turn to write a fictional story and have the chance to win CASH and PRIZES! In addition, we want you to integrate art into your story by creating up to three (3) original, clear and colorful illustrations that enhance your story. This is a CREATIVE writing contest.
Who: This contest is open to K-12 students in the following counties in Georgia and Alabama: Muscogee, Harris, Chattahoochee, Talbot, Troup, Russell, and Lee.
Note to parents: If the child cannot write yet, you may type their words for them. Categories (based upon grade level in the 2022 - 2023 school year):
* Grades K-2
* Grades 3-5
* Grades 6-8
* Grades 9-12
When:
• Entries must be submitted via the Google Form Application by Saturday, April 1, 2023
• Winners will be announced at the official award ceremony on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Photoshop Selfie House
Prizes: Each category will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner.
· All 1st place winners will receive a prize package valued at $50 or more and a certificate.
· All 2nd place winners will receive a prize package valued at $25 or more and a certificate.
· All 3rd place winners will receive a prize package valued at $10 or more and a certificate.
· The entry receiving the highest points will win the grand prize that at minimum will be a tablet.
· The teacher of the grand prize winner will also receive a prize package valued at $25 or more.
*These are the minimum prize values. Each prize package is subject to change (increase in value)
based upon sponsorships of the contest.
TWO NEW CATEGORIES THIS YEAR!
(ONE WINNER IN EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES)
POETRY
FLASH FICTION -Six Word Stories
Judging: This contest has a panel of judges from a variety of backgrounds, expertise and experiences. The judges will use a rubric to evaluate and score each submission.
Official Rules
2023 Official Rules
Dr. ShantaMcClurkin Patrick
Creative Writing Contest
2023
(Official Rules) No purchase necessary, and no fee required to enter.
These are the official rules for the Dr. Shanta McClurkin Patrick (“Sponsor”) Creative Writing Contest
("Contest").
1. Eligibility: The Contest is open to all legal residents of the United States aged 18 or under at the time of their Entry into the Contest. Entrants must attend school in one of the following Georgia or Alabama counties: Muscogee, Harris, Chattahoochee, Talbot, Troup, Russell, and Lee. Entrants under the age of 18 may enter only with the permission of their parent or guardian. Family members of Dr. Shanta Patrick and/or Contest judges are not eligible to enter. All entrants, and/or a parent or guardian of all entrants under the age of 18 must sign and submit the property and publication release on the Contest Entry Form. Only original, unpublished, fictional short stories of 1500 words or less and written in English without profanity are eligible. Only single-author stories qualify (no co-authored stories).
You must include all of the following with your entry:
· Completed and signed Contest Entry Form
· Fictional Story of 1500 words or less
· A maximum of 3 original, clear and colorful illustrations
A parent or guardian may assist their child by typing or writing down their child’s words, if their child cannot write or type. A parent or guardian may proofread and offer suggestions for the child to correct and improve their story, but parents may not co-write with their child. (The child must do the work.)
2. Restrictions: Incomplete or illegible entries and entries that do not meet the Eligibility standards in these official rules may be disqualified.
3. How to Enter: There is NO FEE to enter this contest. Follow these steps to enter:
Write a story in 1500 words or less. Your story must be fictional (make-believe). Your story must NOT contain profanity.
Create at least one (1) and no more than three (3) original, clear and colorful illustrations that enhance your story.
Complete the Google Form Application. All of your information, to include your story and illustrations, must be submitted through the Form.
Email any questions to: Dr.ShantaPatrick@gmail.com
Entries must be received no later than midnight (EST) April 1, 2023.
Entries must include the following items:
A completed and signed entry form, a fictional story of 1500 words or less, typed or hand-written (legibly) and at least one (1) and no more than three (3) original, clear and colorful illustrations that enhance your story.
Please note: All submissions become the property of Dr. Shanta McClurkin Patrick Creative Writing
Contest, and we cannot return them.
Incomplete or illegible entries may be disqualified.
4. Deadline: Entries must be received no later than midnight (EST) April 1, 2023.
5. Categories: Entries will be separated into 4 categories (grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12), and three winners from each category will be chosen. An entry will compete in ONE category.
6. Prizes: The Sponsor may add additional prizes to the following list:
Prizes: Each category will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner.
· All 1st place winners will receive a prize package valued at $50 or more and a certificate.
· All 2nd place winners will receive a prize package valued at $25 or more and a certificate.
· All 3rd place winners will receive a prize package valued at $10 or more and a certificate.
· The entry receiving the highest points will win the grand prize that at minimum will be a laptop computer or tablet.
· The teacher (parent, if home schooled) of the grand prize winner will also receive a prize package valued at $25 or more.
*These are the minimum prize values. Each category is subject to change (increase in value) based upon sponsorships of the contest.
TWO NEW CATEGORIES THIS YEAR!
(ONE WINNER IN EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES)
POETRY
FLASH FICTION -Six Word Stories
7. Judging: All decisions made by the judging panel are final and binding and are not subject to appeal or review. The judging panel will select the winners from each category based on the following determinants:
* Writing Task (stays on topic, work of fiction (make-believe)
*Understanding Purpose and Audience (These stories are fictional and are meant to entertain. Although they may include some emotional aspect, they are not meant to persuade or inform.)
*Organizational Structure (consistent point of view, focus, use of transitions)
*Use of Plot (clear beginning, middle and end, major and minor characters, definite setting)
Use of Narrative Strategies (use of dialogue, suspense and narrative action)
*Language and Flow (variety of sentence types, descriptive, colorful language)
*Grammar and Mechanics (conventions; creative spelling is acceptable)
*Judge’s Choice (the overall rating the judge gives the submission)
*Illustrations (Includes at least one (1) and no more than three (3) original, clear and colorful illustrations that enhance the story and shows superior ability in art)
8. Submission Guidelines: Entrants must write a fictional story. In addition, Entrant must integrate art into the story by creating up to three (3) original, clear and colorful illustrations that enhance the story. This is a CREATIVE writing contest.
This contest is open to K-12 students in the following counties in Georgia and Alabama: Muscogee, Harris, Chattahoochee, Talbot, Troup, Russell, and Lee.
If the child cannot write yet, the parent/guardian may type their words for them. Categories (based upon grade level in the 2022 – 2023 - school year):
* Grades K-2
* Grades 3-5
* Grades 6-8
* Grades 9-12
•Entries must be submitted by midnight on April 1, 2023. Submissions will only be accepted via the Google Form Application.
9. Winner Notification: Winners will be announced at the official award ceremony on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Photoshop Selfie House
*If the judging panel determines that none of the entries in a contest category are suitable, no prize will be awarded for that category.
10. Publication: By participating in The Contest, Entrants agree that the Dr. Shanta McClurkin Patrick Creative Writing Contest Sponsor may publish their entries on the internet (social media, websites, etc.) without payment of any kind (except for any prize(s) he or she may be awarded as contest winners). Entrants also agree that the Sponsor may publish any entry without payment to the author.
11. Limitation of Liability: By participating in the Contest, Entrants agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless Dr. Shanta Patrick and partners, affiliates, agents, representatives and employees
(collectively, “Releasees”) from and against any injuries, losses, damages, claims, actions, or liability of any kind resulting from or arising from participation in the Contest or acceptance, possession, use, misuse or nonuse of any prize that may be awarded. The Contest and Official Rules shall be interpreted
in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia without regard to its principles of conflicts of law. Jurisdiction and venue and all disputes concerning the Contest shall be solely within the Superior Court for the State of Georgia. Releasees are not responsible for computer, technical, printing, typographical, postal, human or other errors relating to or in connection with this Contest, including without limitation, errors which may occur in the administration of the Contest, the announcement of the prize, the processing of entries or in any Contest-related materials; or for transactions that are lost, stolen, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, or illegible entries or postage due mail; entries that fail to enter into the processing system, or are processed, reported, or transmitted late or incorrectly or are lost for any reason including computer, telephone, paper transfer, human or other error; or for electronic, computer, or telephonic malfunction or error, or process of any transaction therein. Dr. Shanta Patrick and affiliates, in their sole discretion, reserve the right to disqualify individuals or void entries, to modify or suspend the Contest, or to terminate the Contest or a portion of the Contest, and to award no Prizes or such Prizes as it deems appropriate using all remaining eligible entries received as of the termination date. Should the Contest be terminated or modified prior to the stated expiration date, notice will be posted on the Facebook account “Dr. Shanta McClurkin Patrick Creative Writing Contest” group. Any attempt by an entrant or any other individual to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Dr. Shanta Patrick reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. As a condition of entering the Contest, entrant agrees that under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, consequential, or any other damages; all causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or the Prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of- pocket costs incurred but in no event shall cover attorneys’ fees. Dr. Shanta Patrick reserves the right to modify prizes and prize award procedures. In the event of a dispute as to the identity or eligibility of a winner based on an email address, the winning entry will be declared made by the “Authorized Account Holder” of the email address submitted at time of entry as long as the “Authorized Account Holder” meets the Eligibility Standards of the Contest. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, education institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
12. Privacy Policy:
Dr. Shanta Patrick will use the information collected from Entrants solely for the purposes of conducting the Contest, announcing winners, finalists and/or entries, which receive an honorable mention, and for communicating with the Entrants about the Contest.
Dr. Shanta Patrick will not sell or disclose personally identifiable information that you provide to other parties by except 1) to recognize authors of stories published, 2) to recognize winners, and 3) as may otherwise be required or allowed by law. Entrants’ names, ages and hometowns may be published to recognize and credit the author of a published story. Entrants may opt out of any part of this recognition by filling out the applicable portion of the Entry Form.
Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee 100% security of data transmission over the Internet. Therefore, Dr. Shanta Patrick cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information transmitted to or from us via email.
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Dr. Joyner loves to give back and has multiple opportunities for students to be awarded for their dedication and efforts!