UPPER PENINSULA WRITING PROJECT

www.upwp.net Co-Directors:
Dr. Suzanne Standerford nstander@nmu.edu
Dr. Mark Smith, masmith@nmu.edu
Ms. Jan Sabin sabesjm4@charter.net

F a l l i n g i n t o t h e Ye a r ’ s P l a n s
October 2008 Volume 3, Issue 8

UPWP 2008-2009 Goals

Writing Marathon--October 11 (register with Jan Sabin)
A Change in the Summer Institute’s Credit Fellowship
Voices, Visions, and Verse
TC Spotlight
Mini-grants
2nd Annual Youth Marathon
Advanced & Open Institutes
Summer Retreat

Remember to click on www.upwp.net to get more details!

Change in Fellowships Voices, Visions, & Help Wanted

The Directors are
developing the new
guidelines for the
Summer Institute
Fellowships.
Because of this, when
you are recruiting new
fellows, we ask that you
do not mention the 5 free
credits. There will be
some tuition coverage,
but the exact amount has
not yet been determined.
That doesn’t mean you
should stop recruiting
though!
Verse
It’s never too early to
start submitting your
students’ (and your own)
writing to Heather
Hollands and the VVV.
Please pass along the
submission forms to all
your colleagues as VVV
is not limited to TCs and
their students. Artwork
is always in demand so
check with your art
teachers too.
We are looking for a TC
willing to coordinate the
monthly TC Spotlight.
The coordinator would
gather information from
a nominated TC and then
write up the spotlight
page for the UPWP
website. Contact
Suzanne at
nstander@nmu.edu if
interested.
 How TCs Are Staying Involved
Stephen Smith attended the “Reading, Writing, and Teaching the Holocaust” seminar in
NYC sponsored by the Memorial Library and the Holocaust Educators Network this past
July. Check out the link to The Daily Mining Gazette at http://www.mininggazette.com/page/
content.detail/id/501447.html
Kim Parlato and Paula Diedrich attended the NWP Scoring Conference in Chicago.
Paula is still willing to organize another AWC (NWP Rubric) Training Workshop. Contact
her if interested at pdiedrich@mapsnet.org.

Opportunities for You to Stay Involved

Attend the NWP Rural Sites Network Conference in Kalamazoo March 13-15.

Begin thinking of writing an idea for a UPWP Mini-grant.

Check out “Poetry Out Loud” at http://www.michiganhumanities.org/poetry

Attend the Writing Marathon and/or upcoming Saturday Sessions.

Participate in the 2nd Annual Youth Marathon. See below.

Inaugural Youth Writing Marathon

On Saturday, June 14, TCs Heather Hollands and Amy Laitinen led a group of students
across the campus of NMU and the Marquette community, to kick start the UPWP Youth
Writing Marathon. Ten area high school students participated in the event and enjoyed a
full day of writing and sharing. The marathon culminated in dinner and a read-around at
the Whitman Commons. The UPWP Youth Writing Marathon is an off-shoot of the Rural
Poetry Initiative that the UPWP sponsored in 2006. Heather and Amy hope that the Youth
Marathon will become an annual event. Watch for more information on how you can help
your students see themselves as writers, engage in place conscious writing, and become
a part of the 2009 Marathon on June 13, 2009.

Congratulations Sara VanAbel. Saturday Sessions:

She was 1 of 50 teachers to be
selected from 2000+ applicants to
attend the Google Academy in
Chicago. Look for her presentation
at the Oct. 10 Conference.
Remember to support our
new TCs (Melissa, Ann, Laurel,
Tim, and Blythe)
They are presenting too.
Writing Marathon Oct 11
Regular Sessions:
November 8 and December 6
Congratulations to
Dean Weiger and his wife on
the birth of their son,
Saharetino (America-ino)
Leopold Weiger in September.