Friends of Acadia, Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, and Down East Magazine recently announced the six winners of “100 Words for Acadia,” a writing contest celebrating Acadia National Park’s 100th birthday.

Writers of all ages were invited to submit up to 100 words in any genre — flash fiction, micro essay, poetry, etc.

Thomas R. Moore, of Belfast, Maine, won first place in the adult category (18 and older) for his poem “Acadian Wild.” First runner-up was Weslea Sidon (“Coffee Break,” micro-essay), a Mount Desert Island resident, and the second was David Sloan (“A Rising,” poem), who teaches in New Gloucester, Maine.

Top youth prize (17 and younger at time of submission) went to New Hampshire resident Sarah Lyon, 12, for her poem “Acadia Awakening.” First runner-up was Devin P. Quinn, now 18 (“Listen,” micro-essay), who has “been travelling full-time for six years in a 35-foot RV” with his parents and three siblings. Caribou High School student Ciara Richards, 17, took second runner-up honors for the poem “Acadia National Park.”

Adult winner Thomas Moore said about his winning poem, “Witch Hole carriage road is my favorite hike in Acadia. It’s about three and a half miles long and loops past Witch Hole Pond and three smaller ponds. Once, as I was nearing Duck Brook Bridge with its three arches, a white buck stepped into the carriage road in front of me and we stared at each other. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.” Moore is the author of three books of poems: The Bolt-Cutters (2010), Chet Sawing (2012), and Saving Nails (November 2016).

About her entry and the award, youth winner Sarah Lyon said, “I really wanted my poem to be about the emotions of Acadia. When I went to Acadia there was a feeling of serenity. And I loved it. I decided to put these emotions to words. When I found out I won, I was astonished! I assumed I wouldn't make it because there are so many talented writers. It's really cool and I am honored to have been the one to win.” Lyon is a student at Oyster River Middle School in Durham, New Hampshire.

“Prizes include $300 for first place in each category, and publication in Down East Magazine for all winners,” said Kathleen Fleury, editor-in-chief at Down East. “Their work will appear in our February 2017 issue.”

“We were very pleased ‘100 Words for Acadia’ drew nearly 250 submissions from Maine and beyond, split nearly equally between adult and youth entries,” said Joshua Bodwell, executive director of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. “The passion and gratitude people feel for Acadia were evident in every piece received.”

“It heartens us that so many young writers participated,” said David MacDonald, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia. “Some submitted individually. Others entered in classroom groups, inspired by their teachers.”

Fleury, Bodwell and Ken Olson, former president and CEO of Friends of Acadia, juried the competition. Entries were judged on literary merit.

For more information about the contest, visit this site.

To learn more about the 2016 Acadia National Park Centennial celebration, visit this site.