Student wins Sargeson Writing Competition

Xiaole Zhan (Year 13) has just been announced as the 1^st= Winner of the Secondary Schools’ Division of the inaugural Sargeson Writing Prize. The Sargeson Prize, sponsored by the University of Waikato, is named in memory of celebrated New Zealand writer Frank Sargeson. As well as a small monetary award Xiaole will also have the opportunity of a one-week Residency in the summer break at Waikato University’s Writing Studies programme. The judge’s comments included this statement: “Two remarkable stories in the Secondary Schools Division led to a joint win for Elijah Neilson-Edwards of Wellington High School for his piece ‘Stray Dog’, and Xiaole Zhan of Westlake Girls High School for ‘Woman, sitting in a garden’.  Ms Chidgey says that both stories were exceptional and could hold their own easily in the Open Division. She says Elijah and Xiaole are names to watch.”