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Excellent, great, cool, amazing, wonderful, fun! These were just a few of the adjectives used to describe the 2010 Young Writers & Artists Conference held this week in Mankato.

Although college students were on spring break, Bethany Lutheran College classrooms were brimming with learners. Nearly 1,000 students, teachers, parents and other chaperones were on campus March 9 and 10 for the South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) Young Writers & Artists Conference (YWAC). Local and regional authors, artists, actors, composers, dancers and other talented adults delivered sessions for students in grades 3–9. Abraham Lincoln even made an appearance, in the form of a costumed historical interpreter, to talk about his life and Gettysburg address.

Students were greeted by Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli, a Mexica dance group from St. Paul. Their energetic performance and history of Mexica dance and culture amazed the audience. “It woke me up,” said one student, “It was fun to watch.” The colorful costumes of the dancers and their swirling headdresses of three-foot long feathers made their performance all the more vibrant. After the dance and drumming of the keynote presenters, students attended three breakout sessions of their choice.

Many students struggled to choose what session was their favorite. “They were all great!” was a common response from the students. Sessions were offered in writing fiction and nonfiction, dance, poetry, acting, storytelling, songwriting, painting, scrapbooking, graphic novels (comic books), drawing, calligraphy, greeting card design and the power of words. When asked to provide suggestions for future conference, few could think of something not already offered.

Sessions were offered for adults this year as well. “Working with English Language Learners,” offered participants the chance to learn strategies and tips to encourage English Language Learners to write, open-up and share their stories. In “Fictional Peers and Mentors,” attendees explored achievement, affiliation, perfectionism, intensity and other issues vital to developing an affective curriculum for gifted students. Educators found both sessions very informative and planned to use the ideas in their classroom immediately.

Students from more than 50 schools across south central Minnesota attended this year’s conference. Presenters were impressed with their skills. “I am continually surprised by their creativity and openness,” commented one presenter. Many presenters made note of the excellent behavior of the students attending this year. A member of Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli told SCSC staff this was one of the best and most receptive audiences they have ever preformed for.

At the end of the day, smiling faces left the Young Writers & Artists Conference with folders of writing and artwork and minds full of inspiration.

Funding for this activity was made possible by a grant provided by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council from funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature. SCSC works in partnership with Bethany Lutheran College and The Betsy-Tacy Society to sponsor this event. SCSC offers academic enrichment programs for students and professional development for teachers throughout the year. Visit www.mnscsc.org for more offerings from SCSC.