Local Students receive awards for Simpson Beck Writing Contest in Hayesville, NC April 23, 2019

On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, Hayesville Middle and High Schools received awards for their entries in the Simpson Beck Student Writing Contest. The Clay County Historical and Arts Council (CCHAC) gave awards for the students. 

Winners of the Middle School Contest for Poetry were: 1^st place, E. Holland, 2^nd place, L. Gottlieb, and 3^rd place, D. Fields.  

Winners of the High School Contest for Poetry were: 1^st place, B. Johnson, 2^nd place, M. Gottlieb, and 3^rd place, M. Crawford.

Winners of the Middle School Personal Essay Contest were: 1^st place, G. Gibson, and 2^nd place, A. Gibson. There were no other entries.

Winners of the High School Personal Essay Contest were: 1^st place, R. Bunch, 2^nd place, B. Johnson, and 3^rdplace, J. Green. 

Carroll S. Taylor, Janice Townley Moore, Rosemary Rhodes Royston

Judges for the contests were: Rosemary Rhodes Royston, Poetry judge, and Janice Townley Moore and Carroll S. Taylor, Personal Essay judges. 

Reba Beck and Joan Ellen Gage

This writing event was coordinated by English teacher Carla Beck, Joan Ellen Gage, representing NCWN-West, and by Reba Beck, from CCHAC, a retired art teacher from Hayesville High School. Reba Beck established the original contests, (which at the time included art work), along with Nancy Simpson (Brantley). Teacher Carla Beck was instrumental in coordinating the contest with the middle and high school.

Awards for the judges were furnished by The Copper Door Restaurant, Brother’s Willow Ranch Restaurant, and Rib Country (Hayesville).

Poetry and Song-writing Lyric Contest for Clay County Schools, NC, renamed Simpson Beck Poetryand Song-writing Lyrics Contest

Nancy Simpson

Reba Beck

The Clay County Historical and Arts Council and the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, in an effort to promote the arts in our community, are again co-sponsoring a poetry writing and a song-writing lyric contest for Hayesville High and Middle Schools this month. The writing contest has been renamed the Simpson Beck Poetry and Song-writing Lyrics Contest, in honor of its founders Nancy Simpson and Reba Beck. 

 

The winners will be announced Monday, April 16, 2018, and the award ceremony for them will take place on Monday, April 23, 2018, at 7:00 PM at the Hayesville High School Lecture Hall. The public is invited to attend this event, and their will be refreshments and cookies.

The poetry judge for the contests is Rosemary Rhodes Royston. She is the author of the book, Splitting the Soil, a widely published poet, a representative of the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, and a professor of English at Young Harris College.

Songwriting Lyric judges include Rob Tiger, local songwriter and singers, Brian Kruger, and Wyatt Espalin.

For more information, please contact Joan Ellen Gage, at: iamjellen1953@gmail.com

Students of Clay County, NC, receive awards for Poetry and Songwriting Lyrics April 25, 2017, co-sponsored by NCWN-West and the Clay Co. Historical and Arts Council

Winners of the Clay County Middle & High School Poetry & Songwriting Lyric Contest, 2017

 

On Tuesday, April 25, 2017, Hayesville Middle and High Schools received awards for their entries in the Poetry and Songwriting Lyric Contests. The Clay County Historical and Arts Council, and the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West gave awards. The Copper Door Restaurant, Brothers Willow Ranch Restaurant, Rib Country in Hayesville, Rib Country in Hiawassee, Mary’s Southern Grill, and Chevelle’s in Hayesville donated NCWN-West’s awards.

Reba Beck from the Clay County Historical and Arts Council and Joan Ellen Gage, from the North Carolina Writers' Network-West, initiated and co-sponsored the contest, which will become an annual event in Clay County Schools.

Rosemary Rhodes Royston

Winners of the Middle School Contest for Poetry were: 1st place, Brodi Carter, 2nd place, Annessca Guyette, and 3rd place Whitley Sumpter. There were no entries for Songwriting Lyrics for the Middle school.

Winners of the High School Contest for Poetry were: 1st place, Dawson Mitchell, 2nd place, Abigail Combs, and 3rd place Montana Walker. Honorable mention was awarded to Sage Cook, and Austin Hobbs.

Winners of the High School Contest for Songwriting Lyrics were: 1st place,
 Jade Welch, 2nd placeHaley Odom, and 3rd place Victoria Beck. Judges for the contests included author Rosemary Rhodes Royston, poet, author, and NCWN-West representative, and songwriters Rob Tiger, Wyatt Espalin, and Brian Kruger. Program Coordinator for NCWN-West, Glenda Council Beall, read in place of Rosemary Rhodes Royston, from the book, “Splitting the Soil”, by Royston.