Student Writers of Indiana
This innovative program will provide needed education in the art of creative writing in local middle and high schools, and ultimately extend its reach to high school students throughout Indiana. With the support of the Ball Foundation Venture Fund, we propose the following primary program components:
- In collaboration with local schools and arts organizations, teams of specially trained University creative writing students, known as "Teaching Fellows," will visit local middle schools, high schools, and community organizations to teach creative writing to younger students.
- The program will host an annual statewide creative writing competition for high school students that will culminate with a creative writing conference for contest winners on the University of Evansville campus. Cash prizes will be awarded.
- Teaching Fellows will publish an annual anthology showcasing their students' best poems and short-short stories along with winning contest submissions from high school students across the state. The program will distribute the anthology statewide.
Student Writers of Indiana will offer creative writing instruction and educational inspiration for an estimated 1,200 students in grades 6-12 in its first year. At the same time it will provide valuable experiential education and meaningful community outreach for University students who aspire to serve as professionals in this field. This win-win scenario, combined with the statewide competition, anthology distribution, and the sharing of program outcomes, will have a wide spread impact and generate renewed excitement for both creative writing and reading.
