Mark Twain Young Authors Arrive

Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 March 2011 17:20 Monday, 28 June 2010 15:07

Twelve young authors have arrived in Hannibal for the 2010 Mark Twain Young Authors.  These students will spend the week walking in the footsteps of young Sam Clemens while honing their writing skills.  Four Hannibal residents are joined by eight out-of-state students for the workshop, which runs until July 3 thanks to a $5000 grant from The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation of New York City and a $2500 grant from Hannibal’s Riedel Foundation.  Support is also provided by the HATS (High Achieving Talented Students) Program at Stetson University, DeLand, Florida.

Six girls received the scholarship.  They are: Abby Burgess, 5^th grade, Home Schooled, Commerce, MI; Lydia Hursh, 5^th grade, Lyall J. Fink Elementary School, Middletown, PA; Richy Rodgers, 6^th grade, Holy Family School, Hannibal, MO; Shelby Jaco, 7^th grade, Mountain Gap Middle School, Huntsville, AL; Destiny Reed, 8^th grade, Palmyra Middle School, Hannibal, MO; and Rebekah Lippens, 8^th grade, Creekside Middle School, Port Orange, FL.

Six boys also received the scholarship.  They are: Jack Norton, 5^th grade, Glen Urquhart School, Beverly Farms, MA; John Hursh, 5^th grade, Lyall J. Fink Elementary School, Middletown, PA; Anthony Derschon, 6^th grade, Hannibal Middle School, Hannibal, MO; David Webb, 6^th grade, Holy Family School, Hannibal, MO; Javan Latson, 6^th grade, Howard Middle School, Ocala, FL; and Ben Weeks, 6^th grade, Home School, Wixom, MI.

The program is sponsored by the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum with support from the HATS Program and the Hannibal Courier-Post.  The Museum’s executive director, Dr. Cindy Lovell, founded the HATS Program in 1999 and established the Mark Twain Young Authors Workshop in 2007.  Lovell co-directs the workshop with Museum curator, Henry Sweets.  The program has attracted hundreds of applicants from around the country.  Hannibal native and writer, Melissa Scholes Young, will join the workshop this year as a writing instructor along with teachers Traci Mosby and Paige Taylor.  Planned activities include riding the Mark Twain Riverboat and taking a lantern tour of the Mark Twain Cave. 

“I’m looking forward to having fun while learning,” said Javan Latson.  “Sort of edu-tainment.” 

“I’m eager to explore the cave,” said Ben Weeks, “especially since we’re taking the lantern tour.”

The twelve students won a full scholarship for the program based on their writing abilities.  They are especially excited to be in town for some of the National Tom Sawyer Day festivities.