MHS Senior Organizes Writing Contest to Encourage Creative Expression

Milton Hershey School senior Malaika Olaoye recently developed a flash fiction writing contest to encourage MHS high school students to express themselves through writing.

After attending a week-long creative writing course at Susquehanna University during the summer of 2018, Malaika wrote one of her first short stories. When she returned to MHS, she worked with staff members to share her passion for creative writing with other students by designing a flash fiction contest.

“The purpose [of the contest] was to endorse more creative, fictional writing…and allow students to explore a different interest,” Malaika said. “Creative fiction writing can improve nonfiction writing, like essays, and cause students’ writing to flourish.”

The following students received gold, silver, and bronze recognition in the first-ever, student-organized creative writing contest:

• Gold: David Li, an MHS junior
• Silver: Jocelyn Weiss, an MHS junior
• Bronze: Katelyn Lepone, an MHS sophomore

The winning writers will read their pieces of fiction in an upcoming Open Mic Night at Milton Hershey School’s Learning Resource Center.

Milton Hershey School encourages students to discover their passions and develop lifelong leadership skills by organizing events and activities like the flash fiction writing contest.