Walter Johnson High School Sophomore Nathalie Jabbour Takes Top Honor in Gaithersburg Book Festival Short Story Contest

Gaithersburg, Md. – May 19, 2018 – Nathalie Jabbour, a Rockville, Md., resident and sophomore at Walter Johnson High School, took first prize in the 2018 Gaithersburg Book Festival short story contest for high school students with her story, “Displaced.”

Second prize went to Gaithersburg High School (Montgomery County, Md.) senior Madeline Hudson, for her story, “Avem Maris.” Third prize went to “Hers,” written by Gaby Brennan, a junior from Oakton (Va.) High School. “Vegetable in the Fruit Drawer,” written by Lance Colet from Oakton High School (Fairfax County, Va.), was named the Fan Favorite.

The top three winners received $250, $100 and $50 gift certificates, respectively, and the Fan Favorite, which was determined based on voting on the Gaithersburg Book Festival website, received a $25 gift certificate. Prizes were provided by the Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus.

The winners were announced today at the ninth annual Gaithersburg Book Festival.

The winning stories were selected by Nisha Sharma, author of “My So-Called Bollywood Life” and a featured teen/young adult author at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

“Judging the Gaithersburg Book Festival Writing Contest has been an amazing experience,” Sharma said. “It was an honor and a privilege to read work from such incredibly talented aspiring writers. I hope each and every one of them pursues their passion and one day is asked to participate at the GBF as a signing author.”

Contest finalists, listed in alphabetical order with the school they attend and county in which they reside, included:

• Keira DiGaetano, Richard Montgomery High School (Montgomery County)
• Doris Jimenez, Southern High School (Anne Arundel County)
• Maria Korzeniewicz, Sandy Spring Friends School (Prince George’s County)
• Natalia Pereira, Walter Johnson High School (Montgomery County)
• Talia Yu, Maret School (Washington, D.C.)

The finalists’ stories are available online at http://gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs/short-story-entries/

About the Gaithersburg Book Festival

The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual all-day celebration of books, writers and literary excellence. Quickly becoming one of the premier literary events in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the 2018 Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, on the grounds of Gaithersburg City Hall, in Olde Towne Gaithersburg, Md. Activities include author appearances, discussions and book signings; writing workshops; a Children’s Village; onsite sales of new and used books; literary exhibitors and food, drink, ice cream, and more. A free, accessible shuttle will be available from the Shady Grove Metro Station and Lakeforest Mall. The Gaithersburg Book Festival also hosts author events in Montgomery County throughout the year as a way to encourage continued appreciation for all things literary. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org or follow on Twitter @GburgBookFest.