Exploring the Impacts of Risk: Celebrating Student Voices from the 2024 CITE Writing Competition

The 2024 Fall CITE Writing Competition invited and challenged CIS Ontario students in grades 7-12 to consider the prompt – 'Exploring the Impacts of Taking a Risk.' 

Sometimes, a risk can result in the overcoming of significant barriers. Other times, a risk can lead to major setbacks and tremendous loss. A risk might be the result of personal courage; however, a risk might also stem from envy or petty desires. Someone might take a risk that affects only themselves, or they might take a risk that affects others as well.

In a poem, short story, essay, or dramatic scene, students were asked to explore what it means for someone to take a significant risk and how it affects their lives and the lives of those around them. 

The CIS Ontario Teachers of English – CITE– Executive received over 90 entries! The group judged first, second and third-place winners per grade grouping, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12.

All winners received a certificate, and their entries will be included in the 2025 INCITE Anthology, which they will receive a print copy of. First-prize winners from each grade band are invited to the 2025 CITE Conference, where they will have the opportunity to attend a workshop with author and storyteller Andrew F. Sullivan.

View the winners below and click the title of the piece to read their submission.

Winners Grade 7/8 Division

FIRST - Jacqueline Poenaru, Bayview Glen – The Darkness Within

SECOND - Liliana Au, Bayview Glen – The Bridge Between Us

THIRD - Atlis Sandomierski, Montcrest School – The Door

Winners Grade 9/10 Division

FIRST - Lara Chamoun, TFS - Canada's International School – The Crying

SECOND  - Audrey Zhang, St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School – Like an Apple

THIRD - Bingyin Geng, St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School  – Short Story Submission, Untitled

Winners Grade 11/12 Division

FIRST - Amanda Zeng, Pickering College – The Duet Between The Body & The Mind

SECOND  - Joy McConney, St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School – The Hidden Spark Beneath The Adversary: Bajan Bakes

THIRD Tied - Katelyn Wong, St. Clement's School – Full Moon

THIRD Tied - Kaitlyn Zhang, The Country Day School – How to Catch a Snowflake

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all of the students who submitted their writing.

CITE Executive

• Ashley Domina, Villanova College
• David Finklestein, Crescent School
• Claire Pacaud, St. Clement's School
• Ellen Palmer, Appleby College
• Sarah Williams, The Country Day School

Students! Participate in the INCITE 2025 writing competition for another chance to win.