PORTLAND — Several local high school students were among 134 statewide recently honored as Maine Regional Scholastic Writing Award winners.

The ceremony took place at the University of Southern Maine. The keynote speaker was author Eleanor Morse, author of “White Dog Fell from the Sky,” “Chopin’s Garden” and “An Unexpected Forest.”

Award-winning students will have their work published in an anthology, “Maine Teen Writing 2015.”

National winners are honored during a special awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City and are eligible for additional opportunities. Seven pieces of Maine student writing won national awards in 2014.

Presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, the awards are the country’s longest-running and most prestigious award and recognition program for creative students in grades 7-12. 

Local Gold Key, American Voices Nominees, included:

* Rangeley Lakes Regional School: Ashley Kiser, 16, Personal Essay/Memoir, “Numbers.”

* Hebron Academy: Rachel Jurek, 18, Poetry, Bioluminescent, and Poetry, “Endless Strip of Vibrant Blue.”

Silver Key winners included:

* Edward Little High School: Alex Landry, 17, Flash Fiction,”Interview.”

* Hebron Academy: Rachel Jurek, 18, Writing Portfolio, “Layers.”

* Rangeley Lakes Regional School: Rachael Weaver, 17, Personal Essay/Memoir, “Am I Doing this Right?”