The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Student wins writing award
MHS sophomore Weaver wins $500 for story of teen 'nobody'
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 31, 2007
Milan High School sophomore Alex Weaver turns out to be a weaver of stories.
Advertisement
Weaver recently won the Lisa Reardon Award for Creative Writing, which comes with a $500 prize, for a story in verse about a high school girl who is a "nobody" and dates a football player who is abusive.
The story is all about high school drama, said Weaver, who couldn't believe it when Lisa Reardon announced her name at the award presentation.
"I was in shock," Weaver said. "It was just fate that I won. I wasn't expecting to win. I heard my name called and I couldn't believe it. Then Lisa (Reardon) said, 'Is she here?' and I slowly raised my hand. I didn't stop shaking until 30 minutes after."
Reardon took her to lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe in downtown Milan following the awards ceremony.
Reardon is a Milan High School graduate who attended the University of Michigan and later received a master's degree from Yale. She has lived in New York City and Chicago. She has published three novels, including "The Mercy Killers," "Blameless" and "Billy Dead." More information on her work is available at www.lisareardon.com.
Reardon created the creative writing award four years ago because someone took an interest in her in high school and told her she was a good writer. It inspired her to write more and dream big.
She wants to tap into the sleeping talent at Milan High School and give another young writer the same experience.
Reardon succeeded with Weaver.
"I have more confidence in my writing now," said Weaver, who plans to save the $500 award toward the purchase of a laptop computer.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
Staff Blog, "Inside The Newsroom"
TOP JOBS
