Sixty Students Complete Third Annual Océ Future Authors Writing Workshop
Their pens were flying and their ears were perked
as about 60 lucky middle and high school students from throughout Palm
Beach County, including 10 Glades area students who participated via
distance learning, received writing tips from such well-known local
authors as Jonathon King, Margaret Ahnert, and James O. Born.
A Path to Being Published The
free eight-day writing workshop held at Boca Raton High School was
offered for the third year as part of the Océ Future Authors Writing
Project, a collaborative effort by Océ North America Production
Printing Systems Division and the School District of Palm Beach County.
During the summer workshop students learn how to improve their writing
skills, gain hands-on understanding of how authors are published, and
learn about todays digital print and publishing opportunities.
Students
gain insight through interactions with Océ executives, as well as
published authors, who lead interactive discussions with the students.
The day-long sessions are taught by certified Palm Beach County
teachers, who conduct daily writing exercises, coaching sessions and
writing practice. Works from each student are then compiled and
digitally printed in final book form by Boca Raton-based Océ North
America Production Printing Systems division. The book will be unveiled
at a book signing event in November.
(From left) Stephanie Brown, 10th grader at Atlantic High School; Lila Stallone, 8th grader at Omni Middle School; Whitney Sha, 7th grader at Omni Middle School; Sindy Bohada, 9th grader at Spanish River High School; and Kenneth Rodriguez, a senior at Atlantic High School.
Blithe Parsons, a Future
Author, who will be a freshman this fall at Wellington High School,
enjoyed the workshop because it gave her the chance to write freely and
uninterrupted for more than an hour each class. I loved the workshop,
she said. One of my dreams is to become a published author, so I plan
to apply what the authors discussed, like writing every day and being
persistent.
Atlantic High School senior Kenneth Rodriguez, Jr.
has had a love of writing since 8th grade and hopes to have writing as
part of his future career. He said the workshop activities made all of
the students think about what it takes to be an author. My favorite
activity was where we were handed subjects, verbs and nouns that didnt
match and we had to put them into a story, he said. It really made us
think. I would definitely recommend this program to my friends.
Mary
Wilson, an assistant principal at Roosevelt Middle School, helped to
create the Océ Future Author program and serves as the academic
coordinator. "In coordinating this program, I work with such uniquely
talented teachers," she said. "Stephanie Tomaselli and Pamela Baker
from Carver Middle School, and Peter Birkett from Pahokee Middle/Senior
High are exceptional instructors with a gift for reaching and inspiring
students to write their hearts out."
From left: Mark Hansen, School District of Palm Beach County school board member; Sheryl Pattek, vice president of marketing services for Océ North America Production Printing Systems division; Author Jonathon King; Mary Wilson, School District of Palm Beach County assistant principal and program coordinator; and Melinda Lee, executive director of the BankAtlantic Foundation
Public-Private Partnerships School
District of Palm Beach County Board Member Mark Hansen, who has
supported the program since its beginning, says efforts like this
exemplify the importance of public-private partnerships that bring
unique educational opportunities to students.
Companies like
Océ that contribute their resources and expertise to further the
education process are a vital component of our school system, he said.
Its been a pleasure to watch the faces of students light up when they
see their own writings published in a real book. Everyone benefits from
creative programs like this one.
Sheryl Pattek, Vice
President of Marketing Services for Océ North Americas Production
Printing Systems division in Boca Raton, says her company is committed
to creating an inspiring educational program for our youth. We are
proud to be working with the school district to support a venture that
has proven to cultivate a love of writing and reading among students.
As
founders of the Future Authors program, Océ executives believe the age
of digital publishing will open up more opportunities for these
aspiring authors. Digital printing technologies are revolutionizing
the business of book publishing, added Pattek. Publishers can now
cost-effectively print books in run lengths anywhere from 1 to 10,000
creating exciting opportunities for new talentlike these future
authorswho now can get their works published. It brings a rich
diversity of books to market for all of us to enjoy. As a leader in
providing digital printing solutions for the book industry, Océ is
delighted to support the Future Authors program and to help make each
students dream a reality.
For information on how to support
the Océ Future Authors Writing Project, contact Mary Kay Murray,
executive director of the District of Palm Beach Education Foundation
at murrymk@palmbeach.k12.fl.us or visit.
Océ helps the people who make
our world. Companies everywhere use Océ technical documentation systems
in manufacturing, architecture, engineering and construction. Each
week, high-speed Océ printing systems produce millions of transaction
documents such as bank statements and utility bills. And in offices
around the world, people use Océ professional document systems to keep
the wheels of business and government turning. Océ is also at work in
publishing on demand, newspaper production and wide format color for
spectacular display graphics. It all helps our professional customers
go 'Beyond the Ordinary' in printing and document management.
