O'Neal Students Honored at Family Stories Festival in St. Louis
Bray Woodard and Molly Kuzma, students at The O'Neal School in Southern Pines, are among thirteen young people who were honored at The Grannie Annie's Family Stories Festival at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis on June 5.
They are among forty-six students from across the United States who had their historical family stories and/or illustrations published in Grannie Annie, Vol. 11, released in both eBook and PDF editions in May.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in St. Louis, The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration invites students in U.S. grades 4 through 8, and homeschooled and international students of comparable ages, to write something interesting they discover from their family's history based on their interviews with older relatives, and to submit their stories to The Grannie Annie for possible publication. Over the past eleven years The Grannie Annie has published stories that have taken place on six continents over a span of nearly 400 years. The stories vividly depict unique events, while reminding readers of the fundamental experiences common to all.
In addition to students whose work was published in Volume 11, the Festival honored young people whose stories or illustrations were included in Echoes from World War II: Young Writers Sharing Family Stories, a paperback book that The Grannie Annie released in December 2015 in honor of its tenth anniversary. Remembered from battlefields, prison camps, and homes in twenty countries around the world, the forty-six stories in Echoes honor family members who courageously faced their challenges — many bravely living out their beliefs and celebrating their blessings.
Students at The O'Neal School first submitted stories to The Grannie Annie in 2009. Since then, The O'Neal School has submitted stories nearly every year and has regularly had stories selected for publication. Bray's story in Grannie Annie, Vol. 11, written this past year when Bray was in eighth grade, is titled "Eyes Straight Ahead." She also had a story, titled "A Geyser for Mother," published in Grannie Annie, Vol. 9. Molly has also had two stories selected for publication by The Grannie Annie: "Clearing the Way" written when she was a sixth grader, was published in Grannie Annie, Vol. 10, and also in Echoes from World War II. Her story published in Volume 11 was titled "The World's Most Expensive Toaster."
During the Festival, student authors read their stories and student artists discussed their illustrations. Following the program, authors, artists, and other Festival attendees had the opportunity to talk with each other, delving more deeply into the stories or the creative process. Attendees even shared some of their own family stories that were brought to mind by the stories they heard.
"These talented and polished young people seized the hearts of the audience members and gave us an unforgettable taste of the hundreds of powerful family stories captured by students who took part in The Grannie Annie this year," said Connie McIntyre, founding Executive Director of The Grannie Annie.
Complete details about The Grannie Annie, and all of the published stories, can be found at www.TheGrannieAnnie.org. Echoes from World War II is available from Amazon.com. Stories to be considered for publication in Grannie Annie, Vol. 12, must be submitted by February 1, 2017.
The O'Neal School
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