Lafayette junior Massiel Islas-Malanco has been selected along with three other Rockwood students as a recipient of the 2014 Missouri Writing Region of the Scholastic Art and Writing Award, a state award given to students based on applications in which students submit art, poetry, writing, design and other visual and literary arts.

Islas-Malanco submitted four pieces and received two awards, a Gold Key award for her short story “I’ll Show You” and a Silver Key award for her memoir  “She’s Not Because She Can’t Be.”

“I did not think I would win. It’s a really big competition, and I was really excited to hear that I had won,” Islas-Malanco said.

The short story follows a babysitter discovering a child’s physical abuse at the hand of her alcoholic father.

Islas-Malanco’s memoir centers on a close friend who struggled with mental issues.

Monique Merritt, Spanish teacher, helped Islas-Malanco find out about and submit her works for the 2014 Missouri Writing Region of the Scholastic Art and Writing Award.

“I referred her to [language arts teachers] Ms. Gladen and Mr. Jaycox to help her find out about competitions and things she could submit,” Merritt said.

Islas-Malanco will attend an award ceremony later this month and will have the opportunity to receive scholarships for writing and arts programs this summer.

“I thought her writing was so good; it is incredible. First of all because her writing is beautiful, soulful, it’s creative and quirky and in English, which is not even her first language. With that, you get a different cultural perspective written in English, which gives it a bit more flare,” Merritt said.

Islas-Malanco will be attending the awards ceremony accompanied by Merritt to receive her awards.