Young writers are set to jet to Dublin
"If We Could Change the World" - a writing competition theme challenging enough to attract entries from almost 1000 students across the country.
And for two young winners it will mean not only cash but a chance to mingle with some of the world's most successful writers.
Yesterday the organising committee of the 4th Annual Junior IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards for Thailand announced the winners for this year.
The competition was open to Thai students between 14 and 18 from four regions - North, Northeast, South and Bangkok/Central - who were required to write an essay of 800 to 1,200 words.
In the Bangkok/Central competition, Patreeya Prasertvit, 16, from International Community School and Suthinee Thaeppunkulngam, 17, of Triam Udom Suksa School, took the winners' awards from 26 entries on the final shortlist. Both will receive a Bt10,000 cash prize.
Another Triam Udom Suksa student, Sirinada Karnwiwat, 17, won a Bt5,000 merit award. Patreeya and Suthinee also won the national awards, chosen from the regional winners. Their prize is a trip - together with one parent - to Dublin to attend the senior international IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards ceremony. The event is the richest literary prize in the world and will give the young essayists a chance to meet and take part in readings with the winning author.
Winners in the Northeastern competition were: Fonthip Daosuriyakarn, 16, from Khon Kaen University's Demonstration School who received a Bt10,000 cash prize; and Napat Rakkitsiri from Loei Pittayakom School, a merit award of Bt5,000.
The Phuket Gazette, organiser of the South Thailand competition, announced winners there as Kongsarut Kladphet, 17, of Kathuwittaya School, Phuket. Runners up were Joy Isabelle Corthesy, 16, of QSI International School, Phuket, and Jatuporn Neamchuchuen, 17, of Buranarumluk School,Trang, who received merit awards.
Citylife Chiang Mai Magazine
announced the Northern results: Chatriya Lertwicha, 17, of Lanna International School, the winner, and Anawat Wongupanun, 16, from Lanna International School Thailand and Dharit Tantiviramanond, 17, of Chiang Mai International School, runners up.The awards presentation ceremony welcomed 250 students, parents, teachers, Bangkok and national judges and others keen on promoting the use of English and creative writing. TV host ML Nattakorn Devakula, was keynote speaker.
The essay contest is presented annually to promote excellence in creative writing, and is a joint effort by
The Nation, Nation Junior and its affiliated publications in the North, Northeast and South. Sponsors include international productivity consultant IMPAC, the Embassy of Ireland and Property Care Services (Thailand).Judges of this year's Bangkok and national awards were Dr Sirikorn Maneerin, former deputy education minister; HE Eugene Hutchinson, Irish Ambassador to Thailand; Associate Professor Suchada Nimmannit, former president of Thailand Tesol, the association of English teachers;
Associate Professor Prathoomporn Vajrasthira, author, former international relations lecturer at Chulalongkorn University and former member of the SeaWrite Awards judging committee; Ajarn Atchara Pradit, head of Children's Literature Programme, Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirot University; and Pana Janviroj, president,
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