Boys and Girls Club Students Find their 'Authentic Voice' at McDaniel College (VIDEO)

This fall, students from the Boys and Girls Club of Westminster worked with a dedicated crew of McDaniel College student writing tutors to develop writing and presentation skills.

The six-week program culminated in a "Prose Slam" at which seven students from the Boys and Girls Club presented their work in front of a packed McDaniel College classroom.

Owen Horton, director of the McDaniel College Writing Center said that the partnership goes beyond just teaching students how to write.

"...While many of our students possess extraordinary gifts and talents, not all their abilities are celebrated equally," Horton said in his opening remarks.

"Often, young people's athletic accomplishments receive praise that dwarfs any good work they do in the classroom. Beth (Tevis) and I talked about reversing that paradigm," Horton said.

The students have been invited to present their work again in early December at an event hosted by McDaniel College President Dr. Roger Casey.

The following students from the Boys and Boys Club of Westminster shared their work: Allyssa Cameron, Raven Nelson, Shirley Tucker, Matthew Weller, A'kiara Hill, Jasmyn Larson, Jane Jenkins.