WHS student wins fiction award
By Scott Nicholson

Conventional wisdom has it that young people can’t read and write as well anymore, but “conventional wisdom” isn’t in the dictionary for Watauga High School’s advanced placement (AP) English courses.

The students in the program have perennially taken top spots in district and state writing contests, challenged by their teacher Bill Watterson.

His AP junior class has had contest winners in each of the last eight years, with students taking home top state prizes the last two years.

This year, Ariel Rudolph won a $5,000 scholarship for the best fiction entry in the state writing competition, which is sponsored by the Wade Edwards Foundation. The foundation was funded by former N.C. Sen. John Edwards in honor of his son, who died in a car crash.

Rudolph’s winning entry, “Finding the Way to the Moon,” is an emotional Christmas story written in a mature and self-confident voice. It can be read online at www.wade.org/shortfic.htm.

Rudolph decided to enter all three categories of the state contest, which is organized by the North Carolina English Teachers Association. Prizes are also awarded in poetry and essay writing. She had started her short story the previous semester in Creative Writing class, but her writing career actually started years before.

“I dictated my first poem when I was three, and I’ve been writing poetry all my life,” she said.

Rudolph said the school’s writing and English programs have helped her hone her skills. She formerly attended a high school in Wake County, and she said Watauga had better computers and more experienced teachers, as well as a commitment to liberal arts. She is also an artist and hopes to attend the University of North Carolina with the goal of combining her writing and illustrations into a career.

“The arts in general here are emphasized so much more than at any other school I’ve ever been,” she said.

Rudolph, who is the daughter of Tom and Beth Rudolph of Boone, is currently working on a collection of poetry, to which she has added photographs and illustrations.

She’s also working on a new short story, and said a number of her fellow students had congratulated her on her success.

Though the advanced-placement track has two separate courses, only the juniors are eligible for the writing awards. Students can also earn college credit if they do well on the end-of-year AP tests.

Watterson challenges his students to enter the contests, preparing early in the year by having students read personal essays. Students are encouraged to write about significant events in their own lives. “The kids get really excited about this every year,” Watterson said.

While Watterson and other English teachers stress writing skills for all students, the AP students do a lot of expository writing. Watterson and a committee read the Watauga High School entries and decide which ones to enter in the state contest. The high school can only enter three or four works in each category, based on student population.

“We’ve been very fortunate over the last eight years,” Watterson said. “In AP, we’ve had a total of 13 winners that have either placed in the district or entire state. The winners have amassed a total of $23,500 in scholarships and prizes.”

The first-place scholarship won by Rudolph also helps her fellow students. Watauga High School received $2,000 in cash for the English Department.

“I’ve already spent half of it,” Watterson said. “We always buy books with it.”

* Scott Nicholson may be

contacted at nicholson

@wataugademocrat.com.