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Bayshore hosts 28th annual Ethnic PEN conference; Cheryl Wills headlines and students present original family narratives
Summary
Bayshore High School's Ethnic PEN conference featured Emmy‑winning journalist Cheryl Wills as keynote; students presented family narratives and participated in workshops with visiting writers and alumni; the event is a long‑running district literacy tradition.
Bayshore High School hosted its 28th Ethnic PEN student writers conference, featuring award‑winning journalist and author Cheryl Wills as the 2025 keynote speaker and a full day of writing workshops, student readings and breakout sessions with visiting authors.
Organizers said Ethnic PEN was established in 1996 and has become a district tradition that pairs students with professional writers to build skills in storytelling and personal narrative. "Ethnic PEN is more than just a conference. It's a celebration of identity and storytelling and community through the voices of our student writers," a district presenter said. The program included student planning committees, curricular work with English teachers and sessions that incorporated historical research and family interviews.
Wills told students about her multi‑year effort to uncover the history of her ancestor Sandy Wills, an enslaved man who joined Union forces during the Civil War; the presenter said Wills later located remains and worked to secure a proper soldier's burial. Organizers said Wills' story is the subject of an upcoming Netflix special and that she brought artifacts and personal items to the event, including an Emancipation Proclamation copy and an Emmy Award that students were able to view.
Students presented original pieces inspired by Ethnic PEN's curriculum. Senior Jaden Chambers read an excerpt he used in a college essay and described how initial participation in the program transformed his confidence and leadership role; other student contest winners presented family narratives drawing on histories from El Salvador, Bangladesh and Haiti. Student journalists from the school's broadcast club and newspaper reported on the conference and described lessons learned; one student reporter said Wills' visit gave the media students practical tips on interviewing and camera direction.
Organizers credited a teacher committee and alumni authors for supporting the program and said the event culminated with a luncheon honoring visiting authors and student leaders. Board members and district administrators thanked teachers, authors and students for the work and highlighted Ethnic PEN as a distinctive, multi‑day curricular event rather than a single assembly.
No formal board action was required; the presentation served to report on the program and to showcase student work to the board and public.
