PORTLAND – Several area students recently received awards from the Maine Humanities Council honoring their winning letters for the 2005 national student essay contest, “Letters About Literature.”

“Letters About Literature” is a national reading and writing program sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Area students who made semifinalist or received honorable mention listed below:

Auburn: Joe Griswold, honorable mention, Edward Little High School; Britney Mitchell, semifinalist, ELHS; Danielle McConnell, seminfinalist, ELHS; Deacon Lasagna, semifinalist, ELHS; Esther Schlotterbeck, semifinalist, ELHS; Michael Muise, semifinalist, ELHS; Shayna Johnson, semifinalist ELHS.

Livermore Falls: Kelsea Searles, honorable mention, Livermore Falls Middle School; Thomas Ventrella, semifinalist, LFMS; Haldon Bernard, semifinalist, LFMS; Kathrynn Lake, semifinalist, LFMS; Stephanie Owens, semifinalist, LFMS.

Readfield: Ben Fulner, semifinalist, Readfield Elementary; Emma Olson, semifinalist; Sarah Adams, semifinalist, Readfield Elementary.