Downers Grove North Students Earn Creative Writing Awards

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Five students from Downers Grove North High School were honored with creative writing awards from Midwest Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Of the winners, Madeline Riske earned a gold key award for her poem, "A Forbidden Prayer," making her eligible to win a national award from the program in spring

The following awards were given to Downers Grove North writing students:

Grace Beacom

• Silver key award for poetry

Rebecca Orjala

• Honorable mention for three poems

Christina Powell

• Silver key award for novel writing
• Silver key award for poetry
• Honorable mention for flash fiction
• Honorable mention for writing portfolio

Madeline Riske

• Gold key award for poetry
• Silver key award for two poems
• Silver key award for novel writing
• Silver key award for short story
• Honorable mention for writing portfolio

Madison Smith

• Honorable mention for short story

“We are overjoyed to celebrate Madeline Riske, Christina Powell, Grace Beacom, Madison Smith, and Rebecca Orjala,” Downers Grove North English teacher Lauren Schlesinger said in a statement.

Schlesinger added, “All five of these senior writers sharpened their craft during our creative writing course and worked countless hours outside of school to draft, re-write, confer, edit, and revise their poems and stories for the 2022 Scholastic Writing competition. I am confident that each of these seniors will continue writing beyond Downers Grove North and further develop their careers as skilled writers and accomplished poets.”

The Midwest Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are presented by the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa.