LETTERS: STUDENT WRITERS DESERVE COMPLIMENTS

To the editor:

Prompted by your Random Acts of Kindness Week, I submit this complimentary letter in recognition of outstanding student writing.

Congratulations to all of the 453 students representing 101 schools who submitted their writing in the annual Southeast Missouri State University Writing Contest. And a special word bouquet to the 27 winners of the coveted Writing Achievement Awards.

As a former student of writing and, later, a teacher of English and journalism, I read with great interest the winning essays, poetry and fiction written by the six area students. A special word to each of them:

Gail, your poem, "Harmony," (about you and your sister) is especially creative and clever. Andy's "Autumn's Child" is a marvelous tribute to nature and shows a real talent for creating unusual word images. Rahul's "Room 42" is a sensitive account of the summer hours he spent as a volunteer at a hospital for terminally ill cancer patients. Josh's nostalgic essay, "The Little Forest," makes every reader yearn for those carefree days of childhood. Rahul and Josh's ability to make readers feel is indeed a special gift.

"A Special Voyage" is an imaginative narrative of a young child's ocean voyage to America, penned by talented fifth-grader Michael, and "The Key" is another fifth-grader's fictional piece of his encounter with an angel. Well done, Matt.

Having retired from teaching six years ago after reading thousands of student papers, it was both fun and satisfying to read what our elementary and high school students are writing these days.

A special thank you to all teachers everywhere who continue to stress good writing skills and who encourage students to enter writing contests. I commend the university for sponsoring this special effort to recognize quality writing, and I appreciate the Southeast Missourian's generosity in publishing the winning entries on two full pages in the May 7 edition.

Writing is personal fulfillment in itself. Being published is the icing on the cake. Keep up the good work.

JO ANN BOCK

Cape Girardeau