Three high school juniors have been chosen as the winners of the Maine Community College System’s A Journey Into Writing contest and named 2015 Governor’s Young Writers of the Year: Morganne Elkins of Edgecomb, who attends North Yarmouth Academy; Divine Selengbe of Lewiston High School; and Addie Monahan-Morang of Freeport High School.

The three students were each presented with an award and a $2,500 check by Gov. Paul LePage in a ceremony at the Blaine House on June 18. MCCS Interim President Derek Langhauser and Matt Kasper, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in New England, joined the governor in presenting the awards.

"This is our 11th year as a sponsor of this program and it is reflective of our support of education and youth throughout Maine,” Kasper said. “We want to congratulate Divine, Addie and Morganne and wish them a bright future."

Elkins won for her short story, “Cold House”; Selengbe won for her essay, “That’s Just Who I Am”; and Monahan-Morang won for her short story, “Mama.”

The judges for the 11th annual contest were noted Maine authors Susan Kenney, Lewis Robinson, and Bill Roorbach. The contest, which is open to high school juniors across the state, is supported by U.S. Cellular. The company has provided $100,000 in prize money to contest finalists since the program was established in 2005.

In all, nine finalists were chosen from 177 entries in this year’s contest, representing over 60 Maine high schools. Over the past 11 years, more than 2,400 Maine students have submitted entries for the writing contest. To enter, students submit a short story, essay, or poem of up to 1,500 words. More information about the contest is available at www.mccs.me.edu.