Liberty Students Win Charles Dickens Essay Contest

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The Denton Dickens Fellowship, a group of Denton-area residents who share a love of the work of Charles Dickens, sponsors an essay contest each spring, and Liberty students have received awards again this year for their submissions.

In the seventh to ninth grade category, Liberty freshman Logan McDivitt won the first place prize and Trent Hodapp garnered the honorable mention/third place prize. 

In the 10^th to 12^th grade category, senior Melissa Lacy won first place and seniors Luke Smith and Courtney Zanetti tied for second place.

 “Congratulations to these students and their English teachers, Mrs. Ruthie Quam and Dr. Sarah Lippe,” said Noto. 

“All students who placed have been invited to read their papers at the forthcoming May 13 meeting of the Fellowship!” he added.  

Freshman English teacher Ruthie Quam said that after students read their submissions to the Denton Dickens Fellowship, the students will be asked questions from the fellowship members. 

“The students gain confidence in reading before such a learned group of people, as well as learning to analyze the questions and respond ‘on their feet,’” said Quam. 

English Department Chair Dr. Sarah Lippe said, “Dickens is not an easy author to read or discuss. 

“I am extremely proud of our students’ accomplishments and their literary expertise.” 

Quam said that in this contest, students have gained great writing experience that will be invaluable in their preparation for college. 

“I am very proud of these students and their achievements,” said Quam. 

“Each year as I read these papers and try to narrow the selection down to the final four to be submitted, I find the process more difficult than the year before. 

“The students really get ‘out of the box’ as they write these papers. 

“I am always entertained by their creativity.”