3 Northport-East Northport Students Place In Youth Writing Contest

NORTHPORT, NY — Three students from the Northport-East Northport School District placed in the annual Huntington Youth Writes contest, the district announced.

Senior Alina Meadows spoke from personal experience in her submission, titled "Damp Determination," earning her second place in the Personal Essay category.

Junior Grace Fitzpatrick’s work, "The Beach" also earned her third place in the Short Story category.

Seventh grader Eliska DiGiacomo’s story, "Mi Mejor Amiga," earned her first in the middle school Short Story contest.

Meadows's essay, which was a reflection on her struggle to find a solution to hyperhidrosis in her hands, was focused on personal perseverance. Her IB English teacher, Holly Rice, who helped her with the essay in its early stages, spoke about what a talented writer Holly is.

"She’s just the type of student that never gives up, and that was really the theme of her essay," Rice said. "She just perseveres and she’s a really talented writer, and I think in college all those skills are going to help her do well and succeed."

Meadows said through the personal nature of the essay, she hoped to bring awareness to hyperhidrosis as a common condition. She expressed surprise and excitement at being selected for second place.

"It was really fun and exciting to find out I won," she said.

She plans to attend McGill University in Quebec in the Fall.

DiGiacomo's story was focused on a strained relationship between a brother and sister that gets
repaired following a treasure hunt left behind from their recently passed grandmother. The story is about the special bond between siblings and the importance of maintaining that relationship.

"The treasure at the end of the story isn’t really the treasure; the treasure was that the brother,
Paul, found his friendship with his sister," said Eliska.

Fitzpatrick's story, "The Beach," was originally written as a class project intended to help
students understand their writing process and was about characters on a beach faced with a small
tsunami. Fitzpatrick shared she has always loved reading since her parents used to read to her at
bedtime and that her third place finish surprised and excited her.

"My parents would read to me every night when I was little, I still read now. It’s just something that has always been a strong suit for me," she said.

Huntington Youth Bureau will host an awards ceremony for all winners in May. Their mission is "to promote the growth, development and well-being of youth in the Town of Huntington
through programs and services that are responsive to the needs of youth, their families and the
community."

The short stories and personal essays will be printed in the Huntington Youth Bureau's Annual Journal.