THE ROBERT FOX AWARD FOR YOUNG WRITERS

was established in 2007 to honor Robert Fox (1943-2003). Robert was a writer and poet who served as the Ohio Arts Council's first poet in the schools and then became the literary coordinator for the OAC. Three awards are given in two categories: prose and poetry.

POETRY:

"We the People" - Stephanie Moore, 9th Grade, School for the Creative & Performing Arts, Cincinnati

"Winter" - Patricia Stuart, 10th Grade, Athens High School, Athens

"The Blacker the Berry" - Brianna Lundy, 11th Grade, School for the Creative & Performing Arts, Cincinnati

PROSE:

"Moon Child" - Olivia Joy, 10th Grade, Ohio DELA, Akron

"To Save a Life" - Kristen Spicker, 12th Grade, Mother of Mercy, Cincinnati

"Infinite Beauty" - Abby Napoli, 9th Grade, Laurel School, Shaker Hts.

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LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE

Readers write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre - fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, contemporary or classic - explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves.

This year's winners:

Level 1 (grades 4-6): Trevor Levin, Cleveland. Wrote toJerry Spinelli, author of Maniac Magee.

Level 2 (grades 7-8): Emily Hansen, Berlin Heights. Wrote to Pam Munoz Ryan, author of Becoming Naomi Leon.

Level 3 (grades 9-12): Hannah Weinberger, Pepper Pike. Wrote to Jonathan Safran-Foer, author of Everything Is Illuminated.