<p>For those still waiting for news, my friend just got an email from YoungArts notifying her as a winner. No phone, just the email for now, and package will come later. She gets to choose between NY, Miami, or LA to participate as a YoungArts winner.</p>
<p>@ForeverFish May I know why you said “this is the first year that the Regional programs are available to all winners!”? I remember you said you received HM in the prior post right? or a winner? … I am confused. Sorry.</p>
<p>@ForeverFish I just RSVP’d for the New York one – Hope to see you there!! I guess it’s much easier for me since NY is just an hour car/train ride.</p>
<p>@brycedrew Did you get invitation to attend the regional program as HM in popular voice? Thanks.</p>
<p>@stephanieyay</p>
<p>“The memoir piece that won me the Merit recognition for YA got a silver key for Scholastic” Are you sure it is only silver key, not silver medal?</p>
<p>@cherryli2015 haha yup, I am 100% sure that it was only a silver key! It caused a lot of emotional conflict back in January when I was both proud of getting some recognition but also extremely disappointed since I believed in it so much. I’m really, really glad my English teacher stood behind me and encouraged me to submit for YA though.</p>
<p>@stephanieyay
How about you submit the same memoir piece to Scholastic again? (Next month is deadline?),see what you will get this year.</p>
<p>@dreamhuge: No, this is my first year applying to YA. :)</p>
<p>@stephanieyay: Awesome! I just RSVP’ed to YANY – hope to see you there! I can’t wait to spend a week in the city with all of these phenomenal artists. I lucked out because NY is the only regional program being held in the last quarter of my school year, aka when seniors’ grades stop counting.</p>
<p>Got my Merit in Creative NonFic package in the mail yesterday, and my Finalist in Poetry packet today! Also, as previously stated, emails have been sent out to all winners.</p>
<p>To those who are debating attending a regional program, let me just say that YA NY was one of the best experiences of my life. Definitely attend. </p>
<p>Another point: YoungArts is not do all, end all. If you didn’t receive recognition from YoungArts, it does not mean that you aren’t talented. YoungArts is really subjective, like anything that involves the arts, and I know for a fact that a lot of people that should have been recognized this year weren’t. While it is an outstanding program, I know of so many writers who haven’t been recognized by it and gone off to be published in top literary journals, attend amazing writing programs, and most importantly, write really phenomenal work. </p>
<p>Don’t let contests, no matter how significant they may seem at the time, control your happiness, or the way you view your art. :]</p>
<p>My daughter is applying from Shanghai and received one of those “Invitation to YoungArts Regional Programs” email.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if YoungArts would coordinate the hotel stays in any ways for regional program participants?</p>
<p>@mtfara: Congratulations to your daughter!</p>
<p>@dreamhuge: The email explicitly says that participants are responsible for their own travel, airline fees, and lodging, so I would assume not.</p>
<p>@yasminwrites: Congratulations! You are an amazing writer!
If you are applying college, don’t forget to update this award to admission officer.</p>
<p>Could you share a little bit more detail about the regional program? Like how many hours you attended activities everyday? Did you have time to study your homework since you have to miss school?</p>
<p>@mtfara: Congratulations to your daughter! It is so amazing for a Chinese girl in China to be a YA winner.</p>
<p>@yasminwrites yes, I definitely would love to hear more details about the regional program. Does YoungArts cover all the meals? How intensive is the program? Do students get time alone to do some homework? also, since the student will be away from home (most of them), does YoungArts organize the lodging to a certain degree?</p>
<p>@ForeverFish: Hopefully we are both in college by then and can stop worrying about grades! The “waiting list on a first come first served basis” makes me a little nervous but I replied 5 minutes after the email was received so hopefully there shouldn’t be any issues. </p>
<p>@cherryli2015: That’s the plan! We’ll see how it goes.</p>
<p>@stephanieyay: I had to check first to make sure it WAS in the last quarter, but I replied an hour and half after it was sent. 
I realized that they made a mistake in the email when they said we’d get participation packets on Friday, Dec. 4 (that’s not a Friday). I’m honestly surprised that my parents jumped on board so quickly, but I guess they recognized YANY as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I look forward to meeting you – and anyone else who may be attending!</p>
<p>And college. Oh, dear.</p>
<p>I RSVP to attend YoungArts Miami Regional Program! Is anyone going from here on CC to Miami Regional Program…?</p>
<p>Still have not heard from YA on Merit or HM for MT… we live in Florida, has anyone been notified as of yet and if so, how were you notified (mail, email or phone call)???</p>
<p>All winners have been notified through email already I believe… Did you get an email? If not, then I will assume that you were not a winner… :/</p>