AUGUSTA — Three high school juniors have been chosen as the winners of the Maine Community College System’s A Journey Into Writing contest and named 2015 Governor’s Young Writers of the Year. They are Divine Selengbe of Lewiston High School, Addie Monahan-Morang of Freeport High School and Morganne Elkins of Edgecomb, who attends North Yarmouth Academy.

The three students were each presented with an award and a $2,500 check by Gov. Paul LePage in a ceremony at the Blaine House recently.

Selengbe won for her essay, “That’s Just Who I Am”; Monahan-Morang won for her short story, “Mama”; and Elkins won for her short story, “Cold House.”

The judges for the 11th annual contest were noted Maine authors Susan Kenney, Lewis Robinson and Bill Roorbach. The contest, which is open to high school juniors across the state, is generously supported by U.S. Cellular. The company has provided $100,000 in prize money to contest finalists since the program was established in 2005.

In all, nine finalists were chosen from 177 entries in this year’s contest, representing over 60 Maine high schools. The six other finalists included Chandler Clothier of Lewiston High School; Sarah Cooper of Bath, who attends North Yarmouth Academy; Jesse Dunn of Waldoboro and the Watershed School; Park Laflin of New Vineyard, a junior at Mt. Blue High School; Thomas LaJoie of the Van Buren District Secondary School; and Colin Prato of Yarmouth High School. These six students will each receive a plaque and a check for $500.

Over the past 11 years, more than 2,400 Maine students have submitted entries for the writing contest. To enter, students submit a short story, essay, or poem of up to 1,500 words.

FMI: mccs.me.edu.