This spring, the Socorro Independent School District proudly presented its 39th Annual Literary Anthology, showcasing a remarkable collection of literary works created by students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Ninety-one student authors expressed their creativity through poetry, essays, narratives, short stories, graphic novels, and correspondence, demonstrating their exceptional writing talent in this year's contest.
First-place winners had their work published in the literary anthology. Among them was Armani Puentes, a fifth grader at Vista Del Sol Environmental Science Academy, who said he felt a strong sense of accomplishment after winning first place for his essay. He said his piece allowed him to express his opinion on why he believed professional athletes were overpaid.
“I love sports like football and baseball, and I love watching my favorite sports players,” Puentes said. “I was watching a game, and I realized that they're getting paid a lot, and people like firefighters and police officers and doctors aren’t being paid as much as them.”
Irene Mendez, SISD instructional officer for secondary Reading Language Arts, said the annual literary anthology is an opportunity for students to express themselves creatively through writing and to become published authors.
The selection process for the anthology began at the campus level, where first-place winners from each campus were evaluated. These winners were then judged at the district level, resulting in the selection of first-, second-, and third-place winners. The first-place winners were honored at a celebration held on May 3.
“I think seeing themselves as an author is one in a million things that they don't usually experience,” Mendez said. “Being a published author is something that now they can speak to, and it's an opportunity that they haven't had before. And so, I think for them it's a great experience.”
Eighth-grader Pepper Sparks from Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School was surprised her graphic novel “Birdcage” had won first place. Sparks said she discovered her passion for writing through her classroom assignments.
“I'd say it's a good creative outlet for me,” Sparks said.
Socorro High School junior Adrian Martinez said the competition allowed him to share his ideas with readers. He won first place for his argumentative essay about whether artificial intelligence (AI) should be allowed in the classroom. His goal was to provide teachers and students with information about why students should be permitted to use AI.
“I think it's a great program because it allows students that like to write to be recognized for what they think and how they feel,” Martinez said. “If you like writing, keep on doing it. It's a beautiful way to express your ideas and feelings.”