Student at Shadow Hills High School, Secures Designation for 2024 NCTE Writing Award
Savannah Vela, a student, Shadow Hills High School, has been selected for a 2024 Achievement Award in Writing, given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
The NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program established in 1957 to encourage high school students to write and to recognize some of the best student writers in the nation. Only students who are juniors may participate. Schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US territories, Canada, and American schools abroad are eligible to nominate students for the writing program.
Savannah is an active student, enrolled in Advanced Placement classes as well as journalism. She was recently named the 2024/2025 editor-in-chief for the Knight Times, Shadow Hills High School’s student newspaper.
This year, schools nominated 633 students. From the United States, students were nominated from 44 states, as well as Guam and Washington, D.C. Internationally, teachers nominated students from Canada, Greece, Jordan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Two to three independent judges evaluated each submission holistically on content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style.
“When I read Savannah’s personal narrative essay, I was moved to tears,” says journalism teacher, Amelia Hadley. “She has a natural writing voice, a powerful perspective, and a beautiful story. I’m not surprised she won a first-place title.”
For more information about the NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing, including past winners, see http://www.ncte.org/awards/achievement-awards-in-writing/.
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is the nation’s most comprehensive literacy organization, supporting more than 25,000 teachers across the preK–college spectrum. Through the expertise of its members, NCTE has served at the forefront of every major improvement in the teaching and learning of English and the language arts since 1911.
Photo caption above: Savannah Vela, Student at Shadow Hills High School, secures designation for 2024 NCTE Achievement Award in Writing
Image Sources
- Savannah Vela: DSUSD