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Eastern to host high school literary festival on April 4

200 students from 10 high schools to participate

Willimantic, CT (04/01/2025) — Eastern Connecticut State University will welcome approximately 200 high school students on April 4 for the annual Eastern Literary Festival for high school students.

Held in the university's Student Center, the festival invites students from across the region to participate in generative writing workshops, open mic readings, and a creative writing contest. Former Hartford poet laureate and Eastern graduate Frederick Douglas Knowles II will be the keynote speaker.

High school students in grades 9 through 12 previously submitted entries of original poetry or short fiction to the creative writing contest portion of the event. Submissions were limited to two poems or one short story up to 10 pages. Winners will be announced Friday, based on creativity, originality, and literary merit.

The event fosters a friendly and inclusive environment where aspiring writers can share their voices and develop their craft alongside peers and experienced mentors.

Students from the following high schools will be in attendance:

  • Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT)
  • E.O. Smith High School (Storrs)
  • Lyman Memorial High School (Lebanon)
  • Fitch High School (Groton)
  • Mercy High School (Middletown)
  • New London High School
  • Norwich Free Academy
  • Rockville High School
  • Windham High School
  • Woodstock Academy

Festival Highlights:

  • Open Mic Cafe (8:00-9:30 a.m.): Students are invited to share their original work, either written prior to the festival or composed during the morning's workshops.
  • Festival Welcome (9:30-9:45 a.m.): Opening remarks by English Professor Daniel Donaghy.
  • Keynote Address and Awards Ceremony (9:45-10:30 a.m.):
    • Acclaimed poet and Eastern alumnus Frederick-Douglass Knowles II '99 will deliver the keynote. A Professor of English at Connecticut State Community College (Three Rivers), Knowles is Hartford's Poet Laureate Emeritus and the recipient of the Nutmeg Poetry Award and the Connecticut Office of the Arts Artistic Excellence Grant.
    • Winners of the 2025 High School Creative Writing Contest will be announced by English Professor Christopher Torockio.
  • Writing Workshops (10:30-11:45 a.m.): Students will break into small, supportive groups led by accomplished writers to create new work. Contest winners and finalists will workshop with keynote speaker Knowles.
  • Final Open Mic Reading (12:15-1:00 p.m.): Students will reconvene for a culminating reading in the Betty R. Tipton Room. Contest winners will have the option to share their work during this session.

Any media interested in covering this event should confirm with the Office of University Relations via universityrelations@easternct.edu or Public Relations Officer Michael Rouleau (860-465-0172, rouleaum@easternct.edu)

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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