Committee Directory | Committee Manuals | College Scholarships Mentoring Program | High School Writing Competition | Archives

Fifth Annual Technical Writing Competition Produces International Winners

Electricity filled the air at the STC April awards dinner at the Winter Park Country Club. Education committee members knew what was up, but the top winners of the 5th Annual Central Florida High School Technical Writing Competition had no idea what a treat was in store.

Three local winners took three of the top five awards at the international competition sponsored by the Society for Technical Communication (STC). This year, for the first time, Central Florida students ran away with top international competition prizes.

David Andrew Zychinski, sophomore at Lake Brantley High School, was shocked to find that he won the international Distinguished award ($1000 award). Zychinski came to the dinner knowing that he won the local Excellence award ($150) for his essay, "Pluripotent Stem Cells: Biomedicine's Promising New Superweapon." Zychinski's parents and brother, who also won a local award, were on hand to share the excitement.

Christina Ricci, sophomore at Winter Springs High School, could not believe that she won the international Merit award ($300). She came to the meeting to accept a local Merit award ($75) for her essay, "A Computerized Theoretical Model for Generating Random Swing Jazz." Ricci's mother, Patricia Ricci, and teacher, Trent Daniel, were beaming as pride brought tears to their eyes.

Kathy Jones, sophomore at the computer-based Florida High School, won the international Honorable Mention award (certificate) and a local Merit award ($75) for her essay, "Feline Dental Care." Jones could not attend the awards meeting but her teacher, Debra Chamberlain, was smiling from ear to ear.

The local chapter also presented a Merit award to Kimberly Carl, sophomore at Winter Springs High School, for her essay, "Breast Cancer." In addition, seven Honorable Mention awards ($25 each) were presented to the following students: Kyle Spector (sophomore), Thomas M. Zychinski (senior), and Christy Foley (sophomore), Lake Brantley High; Ryan Cook (ninth grade) and Nirav Shah (sophomore), Winter Springs High; Katie Booth (ninth grade), Lake Mary High; and Ashley E. Blazina (sophomore), Osceola High.

High school faculty sponsors of the award winners include Sue Behel, Lake Brantley; Trent Daniel, Susan Hasley, and Mark Huaman, Winter Springs; Debra Chamberlin, Florida High; Mark Schiffer, Lake Mary High; and Nancy Evers, Osceola High.

This year eighth grade students working at a ninth grade level submitted essays to the competition. Mike Murray, Debra Chamberlain, and Linda Emerine judged the essays from Ms. Georgia Oatis's Osceola Middle School eighth grade class. Three certificates were awarded: Outstanding to Allyson Snell for her essay on "Underage Drinking: A National Epidemic;" Honorable Mention to Genesis Tolentino for "Mummies: Human Beings Being Embalmed after Death;" and Honorable Mention to Joshua Robinson for "Alexander Fleming's Drug, Penicillin — Drug of the Century."