The Regional round of Northwest Region 7th- and 8th-grade creative writing tournaments organized by North Canton educational nonprofit Power of the Pen will begin on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The tournament is sponsored and hosted by The Ohio State University at Lima.

This spring the 2025-2026 season tournaments began with two district tournaments held at Coldwater Middle School and Tiffin Middle School. Approximately 130 students from area schools will compete in the Ohio State Lima tournament. The top students from the Regional tournament will be invited to the State tournament on May 17-18, hosted by Ashland University.

Power of the Pen, one of Ohio’s largest educational enhancement programs, seeks to positively impact the state’s middle schoolers by helping young people find and develop their own unique creative voice.

The Northwest Region of Power of the Pen includes Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hardin, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Williams, Wood, Wyandot and Van Wert counties.

Contact: Rachel Peters, Northwest Regional Director, (419) 765-0773

Agenda

8:15 to 8:45 a.m.    Cook Hall lobby   Registration

9:00 to 9:10 a.m.    Cook Hall gym    Welcoming Remarks 

9:15 to 9:50 a.m.    Cook Hall gym    Student Orientation

9:15 to 9:45 a.m.    Galvin Hall 118    Runner Orientation

9:15 to 9:45 a.m.    Galvin Hall, Cloyd Commons    Judge Orientation

10:10 10:50 a.m.    Galvin Hall    Round 1 Writing

11:00 to 11:40 a.m.    Galvin Hall    Round 2 Writing

11:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.    Galvin Hall    Round 3 Writing

12:30 p.m.  Galvin Hall, Cloyd Commons   Lunch

1:45 p.m to 2:15 p.m.    Cook Hall Gym   Professional Writing Presentation with Ohio State Lima's Dr. David Gall-Maynard, senior lecturer, Department of English

2:15 p.m.    Cook Hall Gym    Awards

3:15 p.m.    Departure