Students’ Work Selected for VSA arts’ Online Literary Journal

May 2, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 2, 2007 – VSA arts announced eight young writers whose short stories and poems have been selected for "Infinite Difference," VSA arts' online literary journal. "Infinite Difference" showcases the creative works from middle and high school students offering diverse interpretations about experiences with disability. The theme for this year’s call for entries was “A Moment in Time: Zooming in on My Life.”

“The writing project encourages creative writing and reflection about disability,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “This year’s theme let students write about an event in their lives in such a focused way that the readers experience it from an entirely new viewpoint,”

A distinguished panel of judges reviewed 83 submissions from students ages 11-18 years living with disability (students with disabilities and students who have connections to people with disabilities). The stories and poems were judged for their creativity, depth of exploration, and presence of personal style or vision. The awardees are:

• Kimberly Guyette, 11, of Proctor, Vt., “Making my First Communion”
• Alice Hill, 16, of Cedarville, Calif., “The Flight”
• Elizabeth Hyland, 14, of N. Bennington, Vt., “Dyslexia”
• Maria Petty, 15, of Austin, Texas, “Mercy”
• Rebecca Parten, 17, of Dearborn, Mich., “Lunch”
• Gina DeMarco, 17, of Clifton Park, N.Y., “For the Very First Time”
• Juan Carlos Acosta, 11, of David, Panama, “Little Arielito”
• Alyssa Francisco, 15, of Highland, Mich., “Dance”

In this call for flash fiction and poetry, students were challenged to zoom in on a specific moment in his or her life – from the everyday to the extraordinary – the way a photographer zooms in on a subject to capture the intimate details. The results were a burst of creativity, allowing for a different perspective on life’s events.

VSA arts' online literary journal also provides an interactive forum for young writers where readers can post comments, thoughts, and questions for the authors.

For more information about "Infinite Difference" visit http://www.vsarts.org/PreBuilt/showcase/openbook/onlinejournal/index.cfm.

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information visit www.vsarts.org.

Media Contact:
Stephanie Taylor/VSA arts
(202) 628-2800 ext. 3883
SKTaylor@vsarts.org