‘It’s time for the magic:’ Student writers mark a moment of celebration

Since 1994, the Seattle Arts & Lectures Writers in the Schools (WITS) program brings professional writers into classrooms to help student writers find their voices and hone their skills.

The 2017 WITS Year-End Reading and Celebration took place at the Seattle Public Library’s Central Library on May 25. Sonya Harris recorded the readings, and the outpouring of heartfelt applause.

The youth writers presented include: Claudia Basile, Sequin Iris, Aidan Hamann, Ghadah Hassan, Rosechelle Kawaka, Semyon Kyan, Tessa Elizabeth Hill, Devin Harris, Maria Hernandez, Denzel Holiman, Ella Smith, Joelani Wallen-Craig, Cady J, Ingrid Schultz, Hailey Kraus, Kiana Lino, Tatum Hadley, Jemiyah Barker, Nguyen Vo, Elijah Kaplan, Bayla Cohen-Knott, Lola Hengst, Monet Davis, Angel Gardner, Alex Newsom, Theo Hadley, Alexandria Evans, Niya Thomas and Zhu Shen Zhang

The mentoring writers include: Matt Gano, Aaron Counts, Alex Gallo-Brown, Cody Pherigo, Corinne Manning, Daemond Arrindell, Gary Liley, Michael Overa, Imani Sims, Laura Gamache, Rachel Kessler, Danny Sherrard and Nikkita Oliver.

WITS Program Director Alicia Craven moderated the event.

WITS has reached over 100,000 Seattle-area public school students since its start. Each year the program serves students in four school districts (Highline, Port Townsend, Seattle, and Shoreline) as well as at Seattle Children's Hospital.