MVESC Governing Board Vice President Barb Hansen with past Susan Writing Award recipients.
Zanesville, Ohio – Family, friends, educators, and talented young authors gathered at the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC) to celebrate the milestone publication of The Susan Awards: A Collection of Winning Writing. This remarkable book showcases the creativity and exceptional writing talents of student authors whose entries have earned recognition and scholarships over the years. To date, the scholarship program has awarded more than $90,000 to aspiring writers.
The Susan Writing Awards were established to honor the memory of Susan Mahoney, a gifted and passionate young writer whose life was tragically cut short during her sophomore year. Determined to channel their grief and celebrate Susan’s love for writing, her family partnered with the Muskingum Valley Community Foundation to create this enduring scholarship program. For the past 20 years, students from the Muskingum Valley region have been invited to submit their best works for a chance to win scholarships and have their writing recognized at an annual awards ceremony.
To further commemorate Susan’s legacy, many of these award-winning pieces have been compiled into The Susan Awards: A Collection of Winning Writing. Susan’s father, Jim Mahoney, expressed his support by stating, “We are pleased with this book honoring the best in student writing over the past twenty years from the area’s high school seniors while at the same time remembering our beloved Susan.” This nearly 200-page publication highlights the creativity and talent of student writers across the years and is available for purchase at the Muskingum Valley ESC and on Amazon. Proceeds from book sales will directly support future scholarships, ensuring that Susan’s legacy continues to inspire and empower new generations of writers. In following, Mahoney also announced that the scholarship amount has increased for future recipients.
MVESC Governing Board Vice President Barb Hansen stated, “Sunday’s event was truly a celebration and recognition of outstanding writing of regional high school seniors across the past twenty years. It marked a collaborative effort of high school English teachers, a panel of judges, English majors from Muskingum University, 1,000 high school seniors, and a family who has honored their daughter’s memory by encouraging and inspiring future generations of writers.”
For more information about the Susan Writing Awards or to purchase a copy of the book, please contact Shelley Tolliver at 740-452-4518.