OnWord; Celebrating the American Writers Museum

 

By Judy Carmack Bross

 

 

 

Special guest presenter Peter Sagal and the Founder’s Inspiring Writer Award winner Susan Orlean.

Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait..Don’t Tell Me!” presented the Beyond the Page Award to his show’s co-star Bill Kurtis and
Donna La Pietra at OnWord, the annual American Writers Museum (AWM) benefit also honoring poet and influential educator Peter Kahn and journalist and bestselling author Susan Orlean. Sagal emphasized the broadcast power couple’s significant impact on the media industry and then La Pietra and Kurtis shared experiences and insights into their writing careers, accompanied by
a captivating photo and video presentation.

Beyond the Page honorees Donna La Pietra and Bill Kurtis.

Guests viewing a pop-up Level Up Exhibit.

Held at the Four Seasons and chaired by Jay and Robin Hammer, Amanda and John Rutledge, and Suzette and Ally Bulley, OnWord raised $820,000 for the Museum’s operations. Through its various initiatives and programs, including the new “Field Trip in a Box” offering, the AWM continues to inspire and educate individuals about the power of the written word.

American Writers Museum President Carey Cranston.

Board Trustee Brenda Grusecki.

Board Member John Estey

Richard Murphy and Mary Beth Murphy (center) posing with other other OnWord guests.

The American Writers Museum is the first museum of its kind in the United States. Its mission is to excite audiences about the
impact of American writers—past, present, and future—in shaping our collective histories, cultures, identities and our daily lives. AWM offers something for every age group including permanent exhibits and special galleries highlighting America’s favorite
works and the authors behind them.

Award winner Peter Kahn with his former student Dan “Sully” Sullivan.

American Writers Museum founder Malcolm O’Hagan

Peter Kahn, also known as “PK,” leads poetry programming in eight Central Ohio schools and is founder of the largest school-based spoken word poetry club at Chicago-area’s Oak Park River Forest High School, which this year is celebrating its 25th
anniversary. His former student and co-editor of the poetry anthology Respect the Mic, poet Dan “Sully” Sullivan, presented him with the Inspiration Award, highlighting Kahn’s dedication and influence on his students. Sullivan praised Kahn’s commitment
to education, stating: “When I considered education early on as a career path, I remember PK saying to me ‘…know that you’ll have
to give all of yourself to this.’ And that’s what Peter has done and that’s why he is so deserving of this recognition.”

John Estey presenting Student Writing Competition winner Charlotte Brunner with her award.

John Estey and Student Writing Competition Winner Makayla Gholar.

Susan Orlean, a long-time journalist for The New Yorker and acclaimed author received The Founder’s Inspiring Writer Award. Orlean has made a lasting impact on the literary world with her notable works, including The Orchid Thief, The Library Book, and
Rin Tin Tin. AWM Board Trustee John Estey presented her with the award, and she engaged in a thought-provoking conversation
with Sagal about writing, book banning, and her illustrious career.

Joyn Estey Student Writing Competition winner Makayla Gholar with her mother.

Lyndon Taylor conversing with another guest before dinner.

The AWM also celebrated the winners of the John Estey Student Writing Competition, which awards $10,000 in scholarships and
prizes annually. The competition invites teachers to submit entries from 3rd to 12th grade students. with this year’s prompt being, “Tradition was safety; change was danger” from Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow. The high school winners are Svara Carmel Narasiah of Mont’Kiara International School in Kuala Lumpur, Ember Bahe of Navajo Preparatory School in New Mexico, and Ruth Anderson, who is homeschooled. The middle school winners are Anessa Brown of Ridgedale Junior/Senior High School in Ohio, Cecily Barnett of Hopkins West Middle School in Minnesota, Sofia Ou of Eastern Middle School in Maryland, and Makayla Gholar of Ashburn Community Elementary School in Illinois. The elementary school winners are Yuyei Wang of Rehoboth Elementary School in Delaware, Annabelle Zhao of Hudson Way Immersion School in New Jersey, and Charlotte Brunner of Fairview South School in Illinois.

AMW staff member Courtney Borjas presenting a new educational initiative, Field Trip in a Box, to guests.

Guests enjoying drinks before dinner.

Kathleen Rooney, Eric Plattner, and Lisa Farver from Poems While You Wait type out custom poems to guests.

For more information about the American Writers Museum and its future events, please visit www.americanwritersmuseum.org.
Photos by Kyle Flubacker Photography.