All Write @ Virginia Tech Inspires Young Authors
by Susan Felker

Imagine 85 students from eight to 18 years of age converging on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg each morning for a week to work on self-expression through writing. This was the dream of the Department of English chair, Lucinda Roy, who worked with instructor Aileen Murphy, eight other faculty members, and graduate student Ennis McCrery to organize and teach classes for the camp.

"All Write @ Virginia Tech" brought that dream to fruition last year and was so successful that the English department will offer the camp again from June 26-30, expanding it to include up to 150 elementary, middle, and high school students. Last year the camp was open to Montgomery County students, but this year enrollments will include aspiring writers from surrounding counties.

Each day begins with a two-hour writing workshop on poetry, fiction, and non-fiction taught by a Virginia Tech faculty member who is assisted by an intern or volunteer English major.

Last year, a special program on opening day featured poet, 2003 Grammy finalist, and University Distinguished Professor Nikki Giovanni as keynote speaker.

For the next three days, the students spent the last hour before noon adjournment in a different specialty writing class each day. "These classes were led by English department faculty members who chose themes based on their personal interests," Murphy says.

"One faculty member brought a dulcimer, another focused on art. Birds, photography, collages, and film (how to tell a story without words) gave students a lot to think and write about. Lucinda Roy had students do chorale poetry, which they recited and sang."

The last day of camp, students assembled with their parents and read their works aloud so their families could appreciate what these youngsters had achieved. The Department of English also created a special online anthology for the students so they could see their work on the Internet and share it with their families.

No student was turned away because of inability to pay the $185 registration fee. "It's very important to us that every child who wants to come will be able to participate," explains Murphy. "Last year, faculty and community members donated scholarships for four children. Since we are expanding the number of students this year, we hope more people will donate scholarships."

For additional information, to register for this year's camp, or to underwrite a scholarship, go to the workshop's website at www.conted.vt.edu/awvt/. Changes this year include expansion of the enrollment area and smaller assemblies for parents and students the last day of class. "Nikki Giovanni will be back," says Murphy.