ACT Students Earn Multiple Honors in 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
WILLIMANTIC, CT - Eight creative writing students from EASTCONN's Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) magnet high school in Willimantic have earned recognition in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Connecticut Writing Project-Storrs and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Senior Baer Linderson of Danielson received both a Gold Key for the poem "Queer and Angry" and an Honorable Mention for "BPM." Linderson's Gold Key-winning piece will advance to national judging in New York City, with National Medalists to be announced in late March.
Additional award recipients include:
- Eliana Guadalupe, senior, Colchester – Silver Key (Writing Portfolio - "Communal Grieving")
- Jessi Eidinger, freshman, Danielson – Silver Key (Critical Essay - "Why Should We Care About Hannibal")
- Brady Canoza, senior, Uncasville – Honorable Mention (Flash Fiction - "The Abandoned Telescope")
- AJ McGarry, senior, Newington – Honorable Mention (Writing Portfolio)
- Izekeial Phelps, junior, Gales Ferry – Honorable Mention (Dramatic Script - "Break Down")
- Toby Rios, sophomore, Stafford Springs – Honorable Mention (Flash Fiction - "All Harvey Denver Could Do")
- Millyhon Stoney, junior, Willimantic – Honorable Mention (Poetry - "In the Interview Room")
All winning pieces were developed in creative writing courses taught by Kristina Dukette and Stacy Ann Vocasek.
About the Connecticut Writing Project-Storrs: The CWP-Storrs, established at the University of Connecticut in 1982, is one of the oldest sites of the National Writing Project. Through its annual Invitational Summer Institute, the CWP offers professional growth opportunities to teachers across disciplines who recognize writing's value as a learning tool across all subject areas. Improving writing skills enhances thinking skills, leading to higher achievement across disciplines.
EASTCONN, which administers ACT, is a public, non-profit Regional Educational Service Center that has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut's schools and communities since 1980.
