The Young Appalachian Writer's contest was the newest addition to the Women of Appalachia: Their Heritage and Accomplishments Conference.  An initiative of Candy McBride, Director of Continuing Education at Ohio University-Zanesville, and Jeanne Bryner, Appalachian author, the contest was designed to expand the conference to involve more young Appalachian women.

"I was motivated to start the Young Appalachian Writers' Competition because I feel it is our mission to provide opportunities for women in Appalachia,” says McBride. “We need to provide opportunities that allow them to expand and explore who they are."  Sponsors for the writing contest were Appalachian culture advocates Maggie Anderson, Jeanne Bryner, Joyce Dyer, Kate Long and Judy Stitzel and other anonymous contributors. These individuals contributed to cash award scholarships for the winners.

          The inaugural contest garnered entries from high schools throughout Appalachian Ohio. The top three entries were published in an unedited collection. Jeanne Bryner judged the entries. The top three writers included Chelsea Adams from John Glenn High School with her work entitled Whispering Wishes, Kasie McCreary of Minford High School with her piece entitled While Waiting and Hilary M. Post of Morgan High School. The top winner was Post with her work entitled Fitting In, Breaking Out.

          Post, who received a scholarship for her winning entry, shared her story at one of the conference plenary sessions “Providing the opportunity for a new generation of Appalachian women to learn, grow and appreciate their culture is one of the purposes of the conference,” says McBride.

          The Eighth Annual national conference of the Women of Appalachia: Their Heritage and Accomplishments is scheduled for October 20 and 21, 2006. For more information about the conference, visit the conference website at www.zanesville.ohiou.edu/ce/wac.