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More than 40 Students Complete
Seventh Annual Océ Future Authors Project Writing Workshop
Four published authors make appearances
TRUMBULL, CONN. July 11,
2012 – Océ, a Canon Group Company and an international leader in digital
document management, today announced that more than 40 middle and high school
students in Palm Beach County completed the 2012 Océ Future Authors
Project writing workshop, making them eligible to become published
authors. A collection of their works, which they named Pens and Paper: Our
Weapons of Mass Construction, will be presented at a formal book-signing
event this fall.
Two of the students, Meher Kalkat and Michael Wang,
both eighth graders at Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, also
will have one piece each published in the online publication, East
Magazine.
"At the workshop, we had the chance to write creatively in a
way we can't at school," said Meher. "I enjoyed it because the teachers
nit-picked our work and edited everything so well that it really helped me
improve my writing. I would recommend this program to anyone who likes to write
and wants to learn more skills."
Michael agrees, saying that he
especially liked being around other writers. "The workshop was a place where I
could learn how others write and to experience professional editing," he said.
"I’ve never had a real editor before. This was a great way to improve my
writing."
For 10th grader, Julian Stark, this was a perfect way to spend
the summer, especially for someone who would like to pursue a career as a
writer. "I thought I was a good writer and went into this a little cocky," said
the Boca Raton High School student who may become a journalist some day. "Then,
my work came back with writing all over it. I learned a lot and especially
enjoyed the creative energy in the room. I got a lot of ideas from the other
students."
Four professional authors gave presentations to the students
during the workshop, sharing their personal experiences and offering writing and
publishing tips. The authors were Robert Forbes, children's book author and
president of ForbesLife magazine; Mary Monroe, a high school teacher and
young adult book author, Nicole Barker, young adult author of Dancing With
Ana; and Richard Rosser, the publisher of East Magazine. Francis
McMahon, vice president of marketing, Production Printing Systems, a division of
Océ North America, says this year's students displayed incredible
skill.
"When I sat with the students during one of their workshop days, I
was amazed by their passion and commitment to the craft of writing," he said.
"Their work is creative and thoughtful. I look forward to watching these
students grow in their talents and love of writing in future years."
"We
continued to be impressed by the students who choose to spend their summer
vacations as Océ Future Authors," he added. "Our hope is that this experience
will result in a group of young adults with lifelong commitments to writing,
reading and learning."
About the Océ Future Authors
Project
In its seventh year, Océ Future Authors Project
accepted applications this year from nearly 100 students who wanted to spend
part of their summer vacations learning how to become published authors. The
program begins with an intense eight-day writing workshop. Students gain insight
into the process of writing, editing, and digitally publishing books through
interactions with Océ executives, published authors, and licensed language arts
teachers. Writings from each student are then compiled, professionally published
and digitally printed in final book form by the Boca Raton-based Océ North
America Production Printing Systems division. The finished book is then unveiled
at a book signing hosted by the City of Boca Raton at the Spanish River Public
Library. Since the program’s inception in 2006, nearly 300 students have
participated in the Océ Future Authors Project writing
workshops.
The program is a partnership between the School District of
Palm Beach County and Océ North America, and is made possible with generous
grants from the Lawrence Sanders Foundation; Maroone, an AutoNation Company; and
Xplor International, a not-for-profit educational and networking association
serving users and suppliers of document technologies.
The teachers for
the 2012 class were: Nicole Adamo, who teaches at Don Estridge Middle School;
Katrina Sapp Holder, a playwright and short story author who also teaches at Don
Estridge Middle School; and Cartheda T. Mann, the chair of the English
department and writing coach at Glades Central Community High School. Secondary
Literacy Program Planner Diana Fedderman supervises the program for the
District.
For more information on how to support the program, contact the
Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County Mary Kay
Murray at murraymk@palmbeach.k12.fl.us.
For more information about the
Océ Future Authors Project, visit www.oceusa.com/futureauthors.
About Océ
Océ is one of the leading providers of document
management and printing for professionals. The Océ offering includes office
printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide
format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display
graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing.
Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ
customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The
Netherlands, Océ is active in over 100 countries and employs more than 20,000
people worldwide. Océ North America is headquartered in Trumbull, CT, with
additional business units in Chicago, IL and Boca Raton, FL. For more
information visit www.oce.com.
Océ and Canon: Stronger
together
In 2010 Océ joined the Canon Group of companies with
headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to create the global leader in the printing
industry. Canon develops, manufactures and markets a growing line-up of copying
machines, printers, cameras, optical and other products that meet a diverse
range of customer needs. The Canon Group comprises over 198,000 employees
worldwide. Global net sales in 2011 totalled USD 45.6 billion. Visit the Canon
Inc. website at www.canon.com.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon
U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and
industrial digital imaging solutions. With more than $45 billion in global
revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks fourth overall in
patent holdings in the U.S. in 2010† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's
Most Admired Companies in 2011. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels
of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer
service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is
dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility.
To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's
RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.
†Based on weekly
patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All
referenced product names and other marks are trademarks of their respective
owners.
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