High School Students Win Writing and Photography Awards

Nineteen students from six California high schools were winners in this year’s Pat Vachini Writing and Photography Contest sponsored by OWAC. Cash awards to the winners total almost $1,000. OWAC established the Pat Vachini Outdoor Writing Scholarship Fund in memory of the wife of Don Vachini, long-time OWAC member and one of California’s foremost outdoor writers and photographers. “Being out in nature is healing, as we’re experiencing right now with people wanting to enjoy parks and recreation areas safely during the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Bob Semerau, OWAC Executive Director. “This award encourages high school students to consider careers in outdoor journalism so they can inspire readers to explore the outdoors.” The Pat Vachini Outdoor Writing Contest, which is open to California high school students, is named for the late wife of Don Vachini, long-time OWAC member and one of California’s foremost outdoor writers and photographers. OWAC is the only organization of outdoor media professionals in the state of California. Members includes newspaper and magazine staffers, freelance writers, book authors, bloggers, internet outdoor websites, photographers, broadcasters, editors, and media professionals covering downhill and x-country skiing, snowboarding, winter sports, bicycling, fishing, camping, birding, boating, water sports, wildlife watching, camping, and other outdoor recreation.

	2022 FINAL RESULTS, HIGH SCHOOLWRITING ENTRIES
Student	High School	Title	Category	Rank
Wegner, Booker	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“maui poems”	Poetry	*1*
Parmenter, Marcie	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“Memory and Poetry”	Poetry	*2*
Evison-Behrman, River	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“Spring Equinox/Summer Solstice”	Poetry	*3*
Felix, Amitza	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“Redwood”	Essay	*1*
Fish, Sonja	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“An Ocean Treatise”	Essay	*2*
Tiller, Lee	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“The Journey of a Mouse”	Essay	*3*
Fichte, Oliver & Carvalho, Enzo	Carlmont HS	“A Decade of Wildfires”	News	*1*
Fichte, Oliver & Linares, Robin	Carlmont HS	“Nature’s Role in a Digital World”	News	*2*
Ramos, Edward	Archbishop Riordan HS	“Teen Surf Program Shreds Waves on Bay Area Waters”	News	*3*

	2022 FINAL RESULTS, HIGH SCHOOL PH9OTOGRAPHY ENTRIES
Student	High School	Photo Title	Category	Rank
Vuong, Tiffany	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“Eat Me, Alice”                                        “Omen”                                                “Red Suns”	Fauna/Flora	*1*
David, Slade Merrick	Novato HS	“Sleepy Sea Lion”                                      “Quiet Time”                                           “Decay”	Fauna/Flora	*2*tie
Hsu, Jamie	California Academy of Math and Science	“Butterfly Brilliance”                                    “Friyay”                                           “Hmmm…”	Fauna/Flora	*2*tie
Paxman, Drew	Castro Valley HS	“A Dying Camilia Rests on a Bush”                                                                                         “A Peach Rose Bathes in Afternoon Sun”                                                  “Droplets of Water on Leaves”	Fauna/Flora	*3* tie
Rowberry, Kate	Granite Bay HS	Ungathered Bouquet (3 images)	Fauna/Flora	*3* tie
Wong, Taylor	Novato HS	Shady                                                                         Awaiting Spring                                                    Channel	Fauna/Flora	*3* tie
Fichte, Oliver	Carlmont HIS	“Essence of California – Palm Trees”                                                        “Essence of California – Portfolio 2”                                                        “Essence of California – Portfolio 3”	Scenic	*1*
Mi, Jennifer	Castro Valley HS	“Japanese Teahouse in Piedmont Park”                                 “Butterfly Effect in Long Beach”                              “Ventures with Sister in Piedmont Park”	Scenic	*2*
Tsiu Aban, Chris	Novato HS	“Down Bel Marin Keys”                                “Onlooker”                                             “San Rafael Commute”	Scenic	*3*tie
Wangui, Brenda Esther Noosim	Marin School of the Arts at Novato HS	“La vie à l’intérieur – 1”                                                                “La vie à l’intérieur – 2”                                                                   “La vie à l’intérieur – 3”	Scenic	*3*tie