The NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) is an organization committed to advancing the instruction and study of English and language arts across every educational stage. Its Achievement Awards in Writing Contest serves as an outlet for high school sophomores and juniors to demonstrate their mastery of the English language and their ability to craft narratives that resonate. Nominated by their school’s English department, participants from the US, Canada, the Virgin Islands, and American schools abroad compete for recognition that highlights the best of young creative talent. This year, three Tenafly High School students earned awards for their literary contributions: Claire Yoon (’28) and Elisa Sutton (’28) were both awarded the First Class distinction, and Nicholas Peckham (’28) received the Superior distinction.
The 2026 prompt, “The Joy and Power of Reading,” challenged students to explore the transformative nature of literature—how it allows readers to experience lives, characters, and distant places they might otherwise never encounter. The prompt provided a selection of quotes from diverse luminaries, ranging from civil rights leader Frederick Douglass to beloved author Dr. Seuss. Students were tasked with selecting a quote that resonated with their personal journey and crafting a response that connected the text to their own worldview.
“I’ve always been the type of person who writes when I’m feeling genuinely inspired; without that spark, the result ends up feeling artificial and hollow,” Claire Yoon, recipient of the First Class Award, said. Though the initial prompt did not immediately ignite an idea, she overcame her creative block by turning to the work of past winner Soeun Lee (’27) for inspiration. “After reading [Lee’s] work, I realized that I wanted to try poetry myself. I had experimented with it before, but never really pursued it seriously. I saw this competition as the perfect opportunity to develop those skills in an environment that felt both encouraging and fulfilling,” she said.
“Overall, my experience was fantastic,” Elisa Sutton, another recipient of the First Class Award, said. “I had guidance from friends the whole way and really enjoyed the prompt as well as the writing I ended up producing. My triptych of poetry was about reading, and I linked it heavily to religion; I chose this subject matter because, despite how hard things may become, I will always be able to find solace in paper and pen.” Sutton also lauded the help of Mrs. Oppedisano throughout the writing process. “Mrs. Oppedisano was a wonderful mentor through it all, including during my freshman year, and almost all my progress is owed to her. I am eternally grateful for the help she provided me,” she said.
All three students will be highlighted across the organization’s social media platforms, with Yoon and Sutton being featured on the official NCTE website as First Class recipients. For those looking to participate, nominations for the NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing Contest will take place again next year. Congratulations to the winners, and we look forward to seeing their continued growth as writers.
