Loralee DeYoung’s letter to be featured in an anthology
Information provided by Illiana Christian High School
DYER, Ind. (March 24, 2022) – The Indiana State Library Foundation announced that Illiana Christian High School senior Loralee DeYoung won first place in the 2022 Indiana Letters About Literature competition.
Students from all over Indiana wrote letters to their favorite author in which they reflect “upon a work that changed the way they see themselves or the way they see the world.” According to the State Library Foundation, “Students are encouraged to include details about the book as well as details from their own lives to illustrate the change-inducing power of literature.”
DeYoung wrote her letter to Markus Zusak, the international best-selling author of books such as The Book Thief. DeYoung writes that the themes present in The Book Thief helped her deal with the death of a family member. As the first-place winner, DeYoung’s letter will be printed in an anthology, she receives a $100 prize and a prize pack including books by Indiana authors.
Overall, Illiana had eight students finish in the top 24. With an enrollment of around 475 students, Illiana Christian High School had more top finishers than any other school in Indiana. Seniors Oliver Postma and Christine De Young both received honorable mention recognition. Jessica Bergfors, Emma DeBoer, Grace Goodfellow, Olivia Oostema, and Hannah Sliekers all finished in the top 24 and will also have their letters published in the Anthology.
Illiana Christian High School is located at 10920 Calumet Avenue in Dyer, Indiana.
