Advisors
Power of the Pen is Ohio’s exclusive, award-winning educational program devoted to excellence in creative writing.
2020-21 School Year
District
Houston’s junior high writing competition, Power of the Pen, took place virtually on January 23, 2021. Big shout out to Mikey Snow, 7th grade, who will receive a medal for his sixth place out of 44 writers. Seventh grader, Ryleigh Hughes will move on to Regionals alongside Mikey Snow. A total of 47 eighth graders competed against each other with Dylan Shaffer, Sophyah Hewitt, and Mya Lentz moving on to Regionals in March.
Regional competition in March will also be virtual. Best of luck to those moving on!
2018-19 School Year
Regional
On Wednesday, March 13th, 8th grade members of the Power of the Pen team and 7th grader Chloe Drees, traveled to Lourdes University in Sylvania to compete at the regional competition. Eighth graders, Aurora DeLong, Alex Kellersmith, Abby Hickerson, Grace Koenig, Katelynn Rockwood and Melody Layton competed among 56 writers to earn the team a second place over all other teams. Melody Layton scored 12th place and earned a spot to move on to the state competition in Wooster in May.
District
Power of the Pen writers showcased their talents on Saturday February 9th as they traveled to Ft. Loramie to compete at the district level with over 1,000 stories being written by seventh and eighth graders. Eleven schools participated in the tournament, with 53 students writing in the 7th grade and 58 students writing in the 8th grade.
The 8th grade team finished 1st in the District. The following students placed with medals: 7th grader Chloe Drees earned 8th place, while 8th graders Alex Kellersmith placed 9th, Grace Koenig placed 6th, Aurora Delong placed 5th and winning a trophy, Abby Hickerson placed 3rd. Writers earning a #1 paper for a round include: Chloe Drees, Aurora Delong, Abby Hickerson, Grace Koenig, and Alex Kellersmith.
Congratulations to all our creative writers!
2017-18 School Year
Congratulations to several students whose writing was recognized as top notch! On Saturday March 17, 13 junior high writers traveled to Anna Middle School where they competed in a junior high writing competition called “Just Write.” Out of 105 writers 8th grader, Grace Rader received a second place trophy overall, while Megan Mills and Graceanne Slade also 8th graders received #2 papers in their section of writers. Proud of all our HHS writers!
2016-17 School Year
District
Congratulations to the members of the Power of the Pen teams as they successfully competed to earn medals and trophies at the District Power of the Pen held at Botkins High School on Saturday, February 18, 2017. The seventh grade team of writers won second place overall. Megan Mills won a Best of Round I and received a fifth place overall, as well as Grace Rader receiving an eighth place overall. At the eighth grade level, Macy Duhaime won first place overall 8th grade and Mariah Booher received a seventh place overall eighth grade. The eighth grade team also brought home a second place trophy overall. The next competition is the Regional to be held here at Houston High School on Saturday, March 11, 2017.
2015-16 School Year
Regional
Congratulations to Houston’s Power of the Pen writers. Macy Duhaime placed 9th and Maddy Wills placed 11th in the Regional Power of the Pen competition held here on Saturday, March 12th. Also a big congrats goes out to Clarissa Kiehl who snagged a Best of the Best award. All three of these writers will advance to the State competition in May.
The competition on Saturday was a huge success. We received many compliments about our facility; how new it smelled and how clean and organized everything was. Finally thanks to Mr. Maier, Mr. Claypool, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Brown, Ms. Ayers, Ms. Heitkamp, Mrs. McClurg, custodial and kitchen staff, all teachers who graciously allowed us to use their rooms, and finally all our student volunteers who helped as runners. You ALL made Houston proud!
District
Congratulations to the 7th and 8th grade Power of the Pen teams on a successful District competition on Saturday, February 14th! The 8th grade team placed 4th overall with Jacob Trent and Patrick Miering placing 5th and 7th, respectively. 7th graders Maddy Wills placed 11th and Macy Duhaime placed 4th. Macy also received a Best of Round Award for her writing in the 2nd round. Great job teams!
Congratulations to the team members that qualified for the Regional Power of the Pen Competition. They are 7th graders: Macy Duhaime, Maddy Wills, Mariah Booher and 8th graders: Jacob Trent, Patrick Meiring, Lexi Royse, and Clarissa Kiehl. The Regional competition will be held right here at Houston High School on March 12th. Additionally, Clarissa Kiehl was chosen to receive the Director’s Choice Award. This award is given to the student whose paper was deemed one of the best by the State Power of the Pen director, Loraine Merrill. Congratulations, Clarissa and to all the Regional qualifiers.
