Middle and high school students and teachers will participate in the second Festival of Words, to be held from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, March 2, in the Trabant University Center.

Newbery Award winner Nancy Willard will present the morning keynote address, entitled, “The Writer’s Journey: A Thousand Miles, A Single Step.” She is a noted poet, has written numerous books for children and young people and received the Newbery Award for her book A Visit to William Blake’s Inn.

Mel Glenn, author of popular novels written in free verse, will begin the afternoon with “The Split Image of American Teens.” A former English teacher, he offers an understanding of adolescents in his books. His most recently published book, Split Image; A Story in Poems, deals with class and race issues intertwined in a mystery.

Following each speaker there will be a variety of sessions from which participants may choose. These range from poetry to a writing contest to discussions of young adult literature.

While some sessions will be for teachers only, and others designed for students, most will invite both groups to participate.

The day will end with representatives of the Professional Theatre Training Program performing student-submitted poetry.

Groups that contributed to the festival include UD’s Department of English, Delaware Reading Project and the Education Resource Center, plus the Delaware Department of Education.

For additional information, call Peggy Dillner at 831-6308.

Feb. 28, 2002