WPS Student Places 2nd in State Young Authors Contest

5/26/2022

Berlin, MD – The State of Maryland Literacy Association (SoMLA) has announced this year’s Young Author contest winners, and Worcester Preparatory School (WPS) 8^th Grade student Ayla Yonker placed 2^nd in her division state-wide for her short story, “This Close.”

The state selections followed the Eastern Shore Literacy Association’s (ESLA) announcement of Young Author contest winners, at which time 12 WPS students placed first, second or third place for their short story or poetry submission. Each student placed out of the top three finalists of their respective category/grade level in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The finalists are as follows:

Grade 2, Poetry

1^st Charlize Damouni (Lewes, DE)

Grade 2, Short Story

3^rd Grant Messner (Berlin, MD)

Grade 3, Poetry

1^st Serena Jaoude (Lewes, DE)

Grade 3, Short Story

1^st Rodolphe Crevecoeur (Seaford, DE)

Grade 4, Short Story

2^nd Estelle Damouni (Lewes, DE)

Grade 6, Poetry

1^st Ellie Phillips (Ocean City, MD)

Grade 7, Short Story

3^rd-tie Sydney Parker (Snow Hill, MD)

Grade 8, Short Story

1^st Ayla Yonker (Berlin, MD)

Grade 9, Poetry

1^st Jackson Fernley (Berlin, MD)

Grade 9, Poetry

3^rd Lydia Schwartz (Salisbury, MD)

Grade 9, Short Story

2^nd Allen Zhang (Lewes, DE)

Grade 11, Poetry

2^nd Kathy Zhang (Lewes, DE)

Celebrating 50 years, Worcester Preparatory School is an independent, college prep day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 students. Located minutes from the beach in Berlin, MD., the private school attracts an average of 500 students from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. For more information, please visit www.worcesterprep.org or call 410.641.3575.

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WPS 8th grader Ayla Yonker (Berlin, MD) was all smiles learning she had placed 2nd in her grade level in the State for her short story, “This Close”, submitted into the SoMLA Young Authors Contest.
WPS Eastern Shore Literacy Association Young Author winners pictured starting in the front row from the left Sydney Parker (Snow Hill, MD), Charlize Damouni (Lewes, DE), Estelle Damouni (Lewes, DE), Rodolphe Crevecoeur (Seaford, DE) and Ellie Phillips (Ocean City, MD). In the back row from the left, Allen Zhang (Lewes, DE), Jackson Fernley (Berlin, MD), Kathy Zhang (Lewes, DE) and Lydia Schwartz (Salisbury, MD). Not pictured Grant Messner (Berlin, MD), Serena Jaoude (Lewes, DE) and Ayla Yonker (

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Worcester Preparatory School

508 South Main Street, Berlin, MD 21811

Phone: 410-641-3575 | Fax: 410-641-3586

Celebrating 50 years, WPS is an independent, college prep day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 students. Located in Berlin, Maryland, the private school attracts an average of 500 students from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.