Katie DeCubellis was just thirteen when a drunken driver slammed into the car she was riding in, killing Katie and her best friend's mother Marsha Bowman. The tragedy struck a nerve not only in her home towm of Naragansett but also thoughout the state. Monday, Katie and Marsha were remembered on day one of Oprah Winfrey's farewell shows.
Becky Bowman talked about surviving the Ocotober 1999 accident and how Oprah helped her learn how to forgive. Her powerful words on national TV come the same day the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation hosted their 8th annual writing contest ceremony. For the second year in a row acclaimed author Thomas Cobb judged the contest. This year's topic focused on bullying.
"This was a difficult contest to judge, because all of the entries were very good, " Cobb tells this Examiner. Cobb’s powerful words in the novel and movie Crazy Heart helped actor Jeff Bridges win his first Oscar and now his words are also helping future writers.
“I was impressed at the sympathies to the bullied, and also to a kind of truth that goes far beyond the conventional and expected. All of the entrants were impressive and deserving of real congratulations,” says Cobb.
This is the eighth year that KDMF awarded money and prizes to students who placed in the annual writing contest. For the 2011 contest KDMF has a timely topic that could have a profound affect on the writers and readers. Students wrote about bullying.
Patria Hernandez of Middletown, RI submitted “A Voice for Those Who Have Been Silenced” and, according to acclaimed writer Thomas Cobb, it came in first out of the 161 entries. Allie Thibault of Newport, RI submitted “The Introduction to What is Real” coming in at second place and Rishabh Sharma of North Providence submitted “A Boy's Journey Without a Father” coming in at third place
A ceremony was held Monday May 23rd at 7pm at the Warwick Mall to announce this year’s winners. The KDMF presented monetary awards to the winners. Professionally created posters with the winners’ names and writing entries will remain on display at the mall for one week following the ceremony. For more information about the contest and annual scholarships that the KDMF awards visit the foundation’s website @ www.kdmf.org. or Facebook page
In addition to the writing contest KDMF will host the 12th Annual Katie DeCubellis Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at Narragansett High School. Race day registration and check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. The 5K run and walk gets under way at 9:30 a.m. The pre-registration fee through June 8th is $18.00. On line registration is also available @ www.kdmf.org.
Comments