Brooks Students Bring Home Art, Writing Awards

BOLINGBROOK, IL -- Three Valley View School District 365U students have earned prestigious 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing regional awards for their poetry writing.

Brooks Middle School 8th grader Kayla O’Bryant won a Gold Key, fellow Brooks 8th grader Emily Sanchez secured two Silver Keys, and Bolingbrook High School freshman, Nyah Nelson (a graduate of Brooks) received both a Silver Key and an Honorable Mention.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the country’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative students in middle school and high school.

O’Bryant, who says she has been writing books and stories since she was eight years old, has come to love writing poetry in the past year. Her Gold Key winning poem was about her father during what she termed “a really, really hard time” for her.

“The whole point of the poem was no matter what I struggle with, even if I feel at the time like I’m not strong, I really am strong,” she said.

Sanchez calls the awards “a huge thing for me.” Winning is a key factor in her future hopes of writing books and poetry and being a musician once she finishes her education.

One of her winning poems was dedicated to “women who are struggling with hate and danger,” while the other winner was about a stable relationship with a guy who was “everything you could wish for.”

Nelson didn’t start writing poetry until Brooks language arts teacher Sally Green (who taught or is currently teaching all three award winners) encouraged her.

“I didn’t realize my poems were any good until she told me I have talent. Now I write almost every day,” said Nelson, who is looking to a future career as a writer or child psychologist. “The idea of me winning an award, being congratulated for my feelings spilled on paper…it’s an amazing feeling getting rewarded for your creativity and your emotions.”

More than 330,000 works of art and writing were submitted across the nation this year. The three VVSD students competed against other students throughout the Midwest.

Photo: Brooks Middle School language arts teacher Sally Green congratulates Scholastic Art & Writing regional award winners (from left) Kayla O’Bryant, Nyah Nelson, and Emily Sanchez.

Submitted by Valley View School District