Young Authors Visit Trinity
Trinity opened its doors to the younger generation recently, welcoming the 25th annual Young Authors Festival to campus. Elementary and middle school students from 12 neighboring Christian schools joined Trinity staff and students to celebrate scholarship, literature, and creativity.
Meeting in the Ozinga Chapel, Vinnie Adams ’10 began the day with song and dance. Soon after, the young authors were divided into different groups led by Trinity students.
Multiple activities occurred throughout the day. Those included a performance by Trinity’s own performance group TrinProv, which acted out stories written by the young authors. Refreshments were provided outside in the Commons during a break. Children shared stories they had written and illustrated while sipping juice boxes and snacking on fruit cups. Following a campus tour, they participated in a writer’s workshop and wrote new stories together.
In the Black Box Theatre, illustrator E.B. Lewis spoke to the young authors, encouraging them to continue their education and passions. A watercolor painter for more than 70 picture books and winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, he provided insight and advice. “This is what I was born to do,” Lewis said. To find what they were born to do, he advised attendees, “You have to love the process.”
The festival was co-chaired by Prof. Kelly Lenarz ’99, assistant professor of education; Dr. Bill Boerman-Cornell, associate professor of education; and Jasmine Morris, administrative assistant of Trinity’s English Department.