Olivia Beno, of Yardley, a junior at Pennsbury High School, was awarded first place for her story Death and Dreaming on the Golden Coast in Bucks County Community College’s 7th annual High School Short Fiction Contest. Alaina Kass, of Levittown, a junior at Neshaminy High School, won second place for The Sin of a Smile. Katie Krom, also of Levittown, a senior at Neshaminy, captured third place for Forever, Shattered. Dr. David Venditto, a faculty member at BCCC, made the final selections.
Venditto said of Beno’s work, “This story had a dreamlike quality to it that mirrored the protagonist’s own mental state, stuck going through memories and imagined future scenarios. The writing is beautiful and heartbreaking, realistically conveying the feelings of loss that accompany an untimely death. It taps into a deeply relatable feeling that lingers long after reading the story.”
Of the story by Kass, Venditto said, “The writing itself is engaging, with carefully chosen words that reveal a truly surprising ending. The textured and grounded world of the story isn’t incongruous with the more supernatural conclusion, due to the foreshadowing sprinkled throughout. Furthermore, excellent pacing and development of the protagonist give the twist a visceral impact.”
In Krom’s Forever, Shattered, Venditto noted, “The basic premise is simple, but thematically intriguing. The story turns what would ostensibly be a typical teenage romance into a fantastical tragedy. In addition, a lot of interesting visuals are conjured from the author’s eloquent writing.”
A reception for the winners and their friends and family was held at the Newtown Campus at the end of April.
