Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project at Northern Michigan University played a key role in establishing the Upper Peninsula's first affiliate of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, dramatically increasing regional participation from just 8 submissions to over 100 in its inaugural year. This expanded access to regional and national awards resulted in two Upper Peninsula students earning national recognition in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Berkeley Thompson of Marquette Senior High School won a Gold Medal and American Voices Award for her poem "On Buying Pre-Stirred Almond Butter," and Hannah Josefsen of Negaunee High School won a Gold Medal and American Visions Award for her painting "Fragments of Identity." The Northern Shores partnership demonstrates the impact of providing creative teens with pathways to prestigious national recognition.
