Sewickley Academy Freshman Published in The Apprentice Writer

By: Madison Weaver, Communications and Media Intern

Freshman Erin Mahoney’s photograph
Bridge of Stone will be published in the 2017 issue of the The Apprentice Writer this August. 

The Apprentice Writer,
published annually by the Susquehanna University Writers Institute, features the best writing and images from nearly 4,000 submissions by secondary school students. Students can submit writing in poetry, fiction or nonfiction prose, as well as photography.
 
Copies are printed as a public service by The Daily Item newspaper in Sunbury, Pennsylvania and distributed to nearly 3,500 schools in August and September. Erin and her sponsor, Senior School English teacher Mr. Lawrence Connolly, will receive a copy of the publication. Erin’s work, along with a short biography, will also be posted in The Apprentice Writer’s online edition.
 
Mr. Connolly suggested that Erin submit a poem she had written to The Apprentice Writer or similar competition. Erin decided to submit her photography instead, having already earned second place in her age category in Cricket Magazine for a photo of a stone house in Ireland when she was in Grade 5.
 
Bridge of Stone was taken at the Hogwarts Castle in Universal Studios Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida. “My dad and I were in line for the ride that is inside the castle, and we found a spot where you can go under part of the exterior features of the castle. My dad also likes photography, so we started snapping away at the castle from cool angles,” Erin said. 
 
Erin became interested in photography because of her father, an avid photo taker. On her 10th birthday, Erin’s parents gave her a digital camera, and she used the same one to take Bridge of Stone.
 
“It's really nice to have one of my works selected because my family and I have always loved my photography, and I like having my talent recognized in a formal way by someone who doesn't know me,” Erin said.  
 
She plans to submit more photographs to Carnegie Library’s Teen Media Awards this summer and more contests in the future.
 
Snaps to you, Erin!

 
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