About 400 Valley high school students and their teachers are expected to attend the 2004 Young Writers Conference sponsored by the English Department and Masters of Fine Arts Program at California State University, Fresno on Wednesday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Acclaimed poet David Dominguez, who teaches writing and literature at Reedley College, will be the keynote speaker. Dominguez is the author of the poetry collection “Work Done Right” and is included in the anthology “How Much Earth: The Fresno Poets.”

During the conference, cash prizes will be awarded to 15 individual student writers, including President’s Award winners Jaime Childers of Lemoore High School for the poem “Morning Glories and Belladonna” and Chaz Schaad of University High School for the poem “A Never Escape.”

Teachers Andrea Rhoads of Lemoore High School and Darren Klassen of Madera High School South will be honored for their work in teaching creative writing.

The 2004 issue of Spectrum, an annual anthology of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction submitted in advance by participants, will be distributed at the conference. Workshops on writing techniques in the various genres will be offered to students and teachers by the keynote speaker and graduate student writers in the MFA Program.

“The conference allows students to meet and interact with other student writers from across the Valley, to get a taste of what a university-level writing workshop might be like and to get expert feedback on their own writing,” said coordinator Dr. Connie Hales, a Fresno State English professor. “It is also an excellent opportunity for idea exchange among the teachers who come and participate.”

Other award winners to be honored at the conference are the following:

English Department Chair’s Award: Julia Baker, Roosevelt High School, “Honduras” (creative nonfiction).

Fresno Poets Association Award: Whitney Thompson, Lemoore High School, “sharp salty air and corroded doorknobs,” “Gray Peaking Through” and “small town” (three poems).

Fresno Area Council of Teachers Awards: Khaty Xiong, Roosevelt High School, “Decorticating Death” (poem); Megan Maddera, Golden Valley High School, “On Highway 101” (poem); Amber Curran, Fresno High School, “Notes From a Monkey” (fiction), Elyse Marchant, Granite Hills High School, “The Wrong World” (creative nonfiction).

EGSA Awards: Rachel Macek, Lemoore High School, “Inside My Mind” (poem); Austin Lewis, Central High School East, “Thirteen Year Old Memory” (creative nonfiction).

Valley Writers Network Awards: Devon Peterson, Madera High School South, “Twin Ravens” (poem); Melanie Silva, Central High School East, “Remember Me” (fiction); Estefan Valadez, Roosevelt High School, “” (poem).

William Saroyan Awards: Edwardo Perez, Duncan Polytechnical High School, “A Drive to the U.S.” (fiction); Alicia Moreno, Granite Hills High School, “Playing Monopoly with Dad” (creative nonfiction).

For more information on the Young Writers Conference, contact Connie Hales at (559) 278-2359 or connieh@csufresno.edu.