The Ladue Schools community is beaming with pride as Amelia Chostner, a talented sophomore at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, has earned first place in the prestigious St. Louis Writers Guild (SLWG) Young Writers Contest. Her short story, Chaosborne, captivated judges with its imaginative narrative and compelling take on this year’s theme: “CHANGE.”

Amelia’s journey to this remarkable achievement is a testament to her passion for storytelling and resilience. In this year’s competition, high school students were tasked with crafting an original story of 500 to 1,500 words that interpreted the theme in any genre. Amelia rose to the challenge with Chaosborne, the tale of Liora, a young girl navigating a world in constant flux.

“Chaosborne is about a girl, Liora, who lives in a world where the terrain and the world around her constantly changes.” Amelia shared. “Throughout the short story, with a little bit of help, she learns how to control this world.”

Amelia’s success is rooted in a lifelong love of storytelling. “I’ve always enjoyed writing,” she explained. “My brothers and I used to create mini books when we were younger, and that’s what first got me interested. The thing I enjoy the most about writing is being able to create a story where anything you want can happen.”

Her passion for writing, however, is only matched by her determination. This was Amelia’s third consecutive year participating in the SLWG Young Writers Contest.

“In eighth grade, my English teacher, Ms. Page, encouraged me to enter,” she said. “I earned an honorable mention that year, which inspired me to try again. Last year, I submitted another story but didn’t place, and that was a bit disappointing. Still, I was determined to try once more. When I found out I had won this year, I couldn’t stop smiling. It didn't mean much to anyone else, but to me, it was a huge accomplishment.

Judges evaluated submissions based on originality, characters, cohesiveness, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Amelia’s Chaosborne excelled in all these areas, and her winning story will now be published in the YWA Collection, an anthology featuring all the contest’s award-winning stories. Amelia and her family have been invited to attend an awards presentation on January 11, where she will receive a certificate, a copy of the anthology, and a one-year SLWG Associate membership.

Ladue Schools congratulates Amelia Chostner for her inspiring victory and commitment to excellence. She embodies the spirit of resilience and creativity that we encourage in all our students. Amelia’s journey reminds us all that dedication and a love for learning can turn dreams into reality.

Well done, Amelia—your story is just beginning!