Six students at Rio Americano High School received awards for outstanding outdoor writing and photography in the Pat Vachini Achievement Awards Contest sponsored by the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC).
This year’s winners at Rio Americano High School are:
“News & Features” Prose Category – Madeleine Winchell 1st (tie), Ava Ghazanfari 1st (tie), Katie Hickey 3rd (tie);
“Nature as Metaphor” Poetry Category – Olivia Huang 1st, Mia Golden 2nd (tie);
“Landscapes and Natural Settings” Photo Category – Marina Kidwell 3rd (tie)
“This award encourages high school students to pursue their interests in writing and photography about the outdoors, and consider careers in outdoor journalism. In turn, they can inspire readers to explore and treasure the outdoors,” said Peter Schroeder, Achievement Awards Coordinator.
Open to all California high school juniors and seniors, the Outdoor Writing and Photography Achievement Awards contest is now in its fifth year. OWAC solicited written submissions on outdoor subjects in a variety of formats, of 500 words or more, including essay, news article, personal experience, documentary, blog and research studies. Poetry entries must be 20 lines or more, either as a single poem or a combination of several poems, on any outdoor subject Photographers were invited to submit a portfolio of three photos of any combination of outdoor subjects (fauna, flora, scenic, people).
Each student entry is judged by four members of OWAC, all professional, nationally published writers and photographers specializing in outdoors activities. Students receive feedback on their work from the judges. Top winners also receive Certificates of Merit and cash awards.
The contest is officially named the Pat Vachini Outdoor Writing and Photography Achievement Awards honoring the late wife of Don Vachini, former OWAC President and one of California’s foremost outdoor writers and photographers.
OWAC is the only organization of outdoor media professionals in the state of California. Members include newspaper and magazine staffers, freelance writers, book authors, bloggers, internet outdoor websites, photographers, broadcasters, editors, and media professionals covering winter sports, bicycling, fishing, camping, birding, boating, water sports, wildlife watching, camping, and other outdoor activities.
