Dozens of Montello Elementary students were stars for the evening Wednesday as the Geiger/Montello Adopt-A-School Partnership celebrated its 21st annual Night of the Stars at Lewiston Middle School on Central Avenue. The Oscar-style awards ceremony recognizes the most talented young writers from among Montello Elementary School’s more than 800 kindergarten-through-sixth-grade students. Honored writers arrived in stretch limousines.

“The cornerstone of all education is a student’s ability to read and write. The enthusiasm we put into this special evening is in keeping with the quality of teaching and writing exhibited at Montello School,” said Peter Geiger, executive vice president of Geiger.

Night of the Stars is the signature event of the business/school partnership, dedicated to raising aspirations and recognizing excellence among the student body.

The theme for this year’s gala was “Writers Rock.” The 71 young writers whose work was selected as representing the “best of the best” had their work published in a printed anthology, which was distributed at the door. It was dedicated to the Montello faculty, including Assistant Principal Deanna Nadeau, who will move to the new Raymond A. Geiger Elementary School at the start of the upcoming school year.