The Waynesburg University Department of Communication will host the annual John C. Knox Writing Contest for high school students Saturday, Oct. 28, sponsored by The Observer-Reporter.
During the contest, students will have one hour to interview a guest speaker in the style of a news conference. Then, students will have one hour to write an article about the speaker. An optional lunch will be provided after the contest in the Benedum Dining Hall, followed by optional campus tours.
Articles produced will be judged by local newspaper journalists, as well as members of Waynesburg University’s Department of Communication and the University’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Sarah Bell, coordinator of academic communications and study abroad, and advisor to the Waynesburg University Society of Professional Journalists, said the contest will give prospective students a greater understanding of the journalism field and Waynesburg’s Department of Communication.
“I hope students will leave a little more confident in their journalistic abilities than they were when they arrived on campus,” said Bell. “It’s a short event, but so worthwhile, especially for students who are considering a future in writing or news. Students gain hands-on experience in interviewing, writing and meeting deadlines.”
The contest winner will receive a prize of $500, and the winning article will be printed in the University’s award-winning student newspaper, The Yellow Jacket. The second-place winner will receive $300, and third place will receive $200.
For more information, or to register for the John C. Knox Writing Contest, visit waynesburg.edu/knox-writing.
Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three additional sites located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is one of only 22 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.
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Ashley Wise, Director of University Relations
724-852-7675 or awise@waynesburg.edu
