AUGUSTA – Celebrated authors Stephen King, Tabitha King and Richard Russo will join Gov. John E. Baldacci and sponsors of a Journey Into Writing – a statewide writing contest for high school juniors – to announce Maine’s three “Young Writers of the Year” at a luncheon ceremony Thursday, May 26.

The event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be held at Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center in Hallowell.

Each Young Writer of the Year will receive $2,500.

The contest is run by the Maine Community College System, and President John Fitzsimmons and Maine Education Commissioner Susan Gendron will give remarks at the event.

The semifinalists’ stories can be viewed on MaineToday.com: 20 Below and the contest Web site at www.mccs.me.edu (click on: A Journey Into Writing).

The semifinalists are: Lucas Delahanty of Cape Elizabeth High School, Alanna Dick of Winthrop High School, Tyler Francke of Presque Isle High School, Matthew Gleason of Freeport High School, Isla Hansen of Lewiston High School, Kelly Hassapelis of Searsport District High School, Bethany Ingraham of Richmond High School, Amanda Osborne of Brewer High School, Juliana Partridge of Catherine McAuley High School, Matt Powers of North Yarmouth Academy, Margareta Roth of Thornton Academy, Erik Tasker of Deering High School and Moira Yoe of North Yarmouth Academy.

The Journey Into Writing contest received 420 entries from 103 high schools. Submissions came from all 16 counties.

The semifinalists were selected by a review committee from the Maine Community College System.