Award recipients in writing contest recognized

On April 25th, the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District (WOCSD) presented its 38th Annual Literary Achievement Awards Ceremony.  At this well-attended event, 68 students who placed in this writing competition were recognized on stage in the Olenn Auditorium at Wells High School.  This year’s top prize of $500 went to senior Nathan Muchemore for his fictional story, “Out of the Shadows”. 

At the beginning of the event, co-chair of the contest Pamela Lear introduced guest speaker Darcy Ramsdell who spoke of her father David Page who, almost four decades ago, was the first to envision this contest for the District.  Mr. Page, then president of Ocean National Bank in Wells, presented his idea to the superintendent and business manager of the District at that time who then made it possible for Page’s idea to become a reality in 1986.  Accompanying Ramsdell was her mother Barbara Page, a former teacher at Wells Elementary School. 

Following Ramsdell’s comments, contest co-chair Alison Clark invited those who placed in this year’s contest to the podium area one grade level at a time so that first-place winners could read aloud a portion of their writing and each receive a certificate and prize. 

Those who received the honor of first place in their respective grade categories were: Avery Martin (Kindergarten),Quinn Avery (Grade 1), Grady Rounds (Gr. 2), Finley Reed (Gr.3), Aurora Krauss (Gr. 4), Sicily DiNardi (Gr.5), Caleb Hinkel (Gr. 6), Scarlett Lantz (Gr. 7), Katelyn Chase (Gr.8), Annora Ferris (Gr. 9), Christopher Buckley (Gr. 10), Pieper Morris (Gr. 11), and Nathan Muchemore (Gr. 12).  All entries were judged anonymously at two levels by District staff and community members. 

This year the contest was sponsored by the Wells-Ogunquit CSD, the Rotary Club of Wells, and the Rotary Club of Ogunquit.  The top winner at each grade level, except Grade 12, received $100.  Second-place winners received $50, third-place winners received $25, and honorable mentions received fifteen dollar gift certificates to Las Olas Taqueria in Wells.   Rotarians present to award prizes included Danielle Defelice (Wells), Rick Coyne (Wells), and Rick Barber (Ogunquit).