Polk County Schools has partnered with Jean Preston and the Preston family to sponsor the Buck Preston Future Writer Award program for Polk County High students.

Buck Preston is a former English teacher and department chair at Polk County High School. Preston impacted innumerable lives during his tenure as a teacher and inspired many students to pursue creative writing, school officials said. 

Preston passed away in January 2013. In order to honor the contributions he made to Polk County High and the many students he taught, Polk County Schools and the Preston family sponsor the annual Buck Preston Future Writer Award. Students are encouraged to submit a creative writing piece to a panel of judges for consideration.

The student with the winning submission for the 2017-2018 academic year was current PCHS senior Sadie Allen.

Allen received a check for $500 from the Buck Preston Memorial Fund and an award certificate. She was recognized at the PCHS Underclassmen Awards Ceremony in spring 2018.

– Submitted by PolkStudents.com