Jennifer Steele (right), co-leader of workshop at 2005 Young Writers dinner. Steele, a Howard University senior and past county poetry champion, was a keynote speaker for the event. At left are 2005 county prose winners Carmen Melillo of Valley Regional High School and Georgianna Hunt of Woodstock Academy.

IMPAC Vice President Susan Schran addresses young writers at Young Writers dinner 6-5-05.

Co-Master of Ceremonies Diane Smith and keynote speaker Jennifer  Steele at 2005 Young Writers Dinner.

Spouses Ravi Shankar and Diane Creede at 2005 Young Writers Dinner.

Rand Cooper's head explodes at 2005 Young Writers Dinner.

CSU Chancellor Bill Cibes is greeted by guests including Cheryl Demharter (left) of FrenchSounds LLC, retired Litchfield High School French teacher Carol Kearns and Harry Schuh during reception for the 8th annual IMPAC-CSU Young Writers dinner June 5, 2005 at the Litchfield Inn.

Litchfield-Morris Rotary Club President Chuck Conn presents Litchfield High School graduating senior Ashley Langer with a $150 check for her prize-winning poem in the 2005 IMPAC-Rotary Spanish Young Writers competition.

Poet Ravi Shankar, keynote speaker for the 2005 IMPAC-CSU Young Writers annual dinner, conducted a workshop at the beginning of the festivities. Shankar is poet-in-
residence and assistant professor of English at Central Connecticut State University. He is the author of Instrumentality, a collection of poems published by Cherry Grove Collections in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Central Connecticut State University Poet in Residence Ravi Shankar celebrates with retired publishing executive Ron Gentilin during reception for the 8th Annual IMPAC-CSU Young Writers Dinner at the Litchfield Inn, June 5, 2005.

Barbara Greenbaum (left) and her daughter, 2005 Tolland County Poetry Champion Gracie Greenbaum, check out the literary journal Connecticut Review and the program for the IMPAC- Connecticut State University Young Writers 8th annual dinner June 5, 2005 at the Litchfield Inn. Greenbaum attends Tolland High School and the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.

Liz Clarkin-Breslin (trombone / vocals), Jake Thibault (alto / tenor sax) and Alex Gros (alto sax) of the Litchfield High Jazz Combo provide dinner music for the June 5, 2005 annual Young Writers celebration at the Litchfield Inn.

Poets Gregory Kovach of Masuk High School and Gracie Greenbaum of Tolland High School share a thought during workshop at the 8th annual IMPAC-Connecticut State University Young Writers  dinner June 5, 2005 at the Litchfield Inn. Kovach and Greenbaum earned $1,000 prizes as county winners.

Michal Dichter, Marcus Thibault, Rachel Clarkin-Breslin and Alex Gros of the Litchfield Junior High School Jazz Band sit in with the Jen Allen Jazz Combo June 5, 2005 at the Litchfield Inn.

Jessica Roth, a student at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, receives her second $1,000 check June 5, 2005 as the State Poetry Champion in the competition run the IMPAC-Connecticut State University Young Writers Trust. Roth won for her poem, "Growing Citrus." Roth receives the check from Andy Thibault, chairman of the Young Writers Trust, as CSU Chancellor Bill Cibes joins in the applause. Roth won her first $1,000 prize in April as the Hartford County poetry champion.

Tenor saxophonist Jake Thibault with Jen Allen Jazz Combo, Litchfield Inn, June 5, 2005.

Alto saxophonist Stephen Brookes with Jen Allen Jazz Combo, Litchfield Inn, June 5, 2005.

The Jen Allen Jazz Combo, featuring alto saxophonist Stephen Brookes (right) and tenor saxophonist Jake Thibault (left), began the reception for the 8th Annual IMPAC-CSU Young Writers Dinner June 5, 2005 at the Litchfield Inn. Background, left, is Liz Clarkin-Breslin, trombone. Background, right, is Steve Porter on bass.

Jen Allen of West Hartford leads the Jen Allen Jazz Combo during reception for the 8th annual IMPAC-CSU Young Writers Dinner June 5, 2005 at the Litchfield Inn.

Alto saxophonist Alex Gros wails with the Jen Allen Jazz Combo, 6-5-05, Litchfield Inn.

Charlotte Crowe, a student at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, receives her second $1,000 check June 5, 2005 as the State Prose Champion in the competition run the IMPAC-Connecticut State University Young Writers Trust. Crowe won for her story, "Korean Laundry." Crowe receives the check from Andy Thibault, chairman of the Young Writers Trust, as CSU Chancellor Bill Cibes joins in the applause. Crowe won her first $1,000 prize in April as the Hartford County prose champion.

Liz-Clarkin Breslin sings for her supper with the Litchfield High Jazz Combo June 5, 2005 at the Litchfield Inn.