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Reading, writing through pandemic

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University’s campus isn’t flooded with students attending the 2020 English Festival this week, but the virtual event is going strong through Friday.

The festival has 41 years of history and its organizers didn’t want to let go of that just because large gatherings of people are not permitted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In its 42nd year, the festival has a presence at ysuenglishfest ival.org, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The event began Wednesday with university President Jim Tressel welcoming the seventh- through 12th-grade guests, teachers, parents and librarians. Organizers said they have no idea how many will join virtually, compared to the 1,000 per day of past years.

The annual program reaches out to some 3,000 junior and senior high school students from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio, and Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania, their teachers, parents, area librarians and others who are interested in promoting and cultivating reading and writing.

Though the English Festival occurs in the spring, its effects are felt throughout the year. Each fall nearly 200 middle and high schools in the greater Youngstown area receive invitations to bring students to the festival. To attend, students must read seven books, and teachers monitor their reading progress throughout the year.

The 2020 Virtual Festival presents guest lecturers and a question-and-answer session. There also are insights sessions on festival books, conversations about festival art and music entries.

Not-So-Trivial Trivia and Stay-At-Home Poetry contests also are being held. All pre-festival contest entries will be judged, and winners will be notified.

The English Festival Committee, headed by YSU Writing Center director Angela Messenger; Jeff Buchanan, chairman of the English Department; and Gary Salvner, one of the founders of the festival, has been working on events and experiences that can be transformed on media instead of in person. The English Festival Advisory Board, made up of community leaders from the five counties in two states the festival serves, have contributed oversight, ideas, support and suggestions to allow as many schools to participate as possible.

Winners of pre-festival contests in essay writing, art and music will be announced during the three days. On Friday, a virtual awards ceremony is scheduled.

news@tribtoday.com

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