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Ambassador Carol A. Rodley (center right) and H.E. Mak Vannm (center left) with all contest winners.
Eleven Young Writers Recognized at First Annual Mark Twain Creative Writing Contest Awards Ceremony
U.S. Embassy, Phnom Penh
June 06, 2009
On June 6, Ambassador Carol A. Rodley recognized 11 young writers at the First Annual Mark Twain Creative Writing Contest Awards Ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. The awards ceremony was attended by Undersecretary of State Mak Vann of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports as well as by over 140 students, parents, and educators from five participating public high schools. The ceremony marked the culmination of the Embassy’s first creative writing contest, which kicked off in March 2009.
Contest participants were asked to handwrite a three- to seven-page fictional short story with a moral theme in Khmer. Essay entries were judged on grammar, creativity, and fluidity of reading. By the contest deadline in April 2009, the Embassy had received over 130 submissions.
Both the Ambassador and the Undersecretary of State congratulated the students wholeheartedly, expressing their pride in the students’ efforts and accomplishments.
In her remarks, Ambassador Rodley emphasized the importance of the written word and stressed that it “is a powerful tool that has the potential to form and change opinions”. She also noted that she believes that “Cambodian authors will play a critical role in how the world views your country in the future and that some of the young authors here today will be a part of that process”.
In his speech, Undersecretary of State Mak Vann quoted Charles Garfield from his book, “Peak Performers,” saying “‘Some people make things happen, some watch things happen, and some wonder what happened.’ But all 130 of you students make writing happen. By your effort during this contest program, you clearly have identified yourself as part of the group that make things happen. To paraphrase another thinker, “There is reason in any writing; but the reason lies in you, the writer.”
The young winning writers hailed from four of five Phnom Penh high schools participating in the contest. The first place winner was Toul Tumpoung High School senior Miss Lai Chhoeng, for her story entitled “Meaningless Life.” She received an engraved plaque and a prize of $150.00 for her story which reflected the difficulties that Cambodian families face each day in Phnom Penh and throughout the country.
Two second place prizes were awarded to fellow Toul Tumpoung High School seniors Miss Man Keo Pich Chenda and Mr. Huy Dara, for their stories respectively entitled “A White Bird and a Golden Cage” and “Environmental War.” Both students received a framed certificate and a prize of $75.00 each for their work.
Three third place prizes were also awarded to Miss Yong Sokunthy, a senior at Bun Rany Hun Sen Wat Phnom Penh High School, as well as to Miss Seng Chan Somaly and Miss Khin Lyda, both seniors at Sisowath High School. The winners each received a certificate and a prize of $25.00.
In addition to first, second, and third prizes, the Embassy also recognized five writers with a certificate of honorable mention: Miss Ly Linna and Miss Darom Theary, both seniors at Toul Tumpoung High School; Miss Nguon Panha Neat and Mr. Prak Sela, both seniors at Bun Rany Hun Sen Wat Phnom High School; and Mr. Sarin Sirivudh, a senior at Bak Touk High School.
The Embassy’s Public Affairs Section established the First Annual Mark Twain Creative Writing Contest in an effort to encourage youth participation in the arts. The contest also aims to highlight the achievements of the great American writer Samuel Longhorn Clemens, otherwise known under his pen name as Mark Twain, whose writing influenced everyday American politics, culture, and social discourse.
