HALLOWELL — Three high school juniors were named Young Writers of the Year today by the Maine Community College System’s annual Journey Into Writing Contest.

Berkley Heath of Morse High School in Bath, Shannon Martin of Fort Kent Community High School and Katherine Rich of Kennebunk High School all earned the title and a $2,500 cash prize. The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram is one of the contest's sponsors.

The winning entries will be printed in their entirety in Sunday's Maine Sunday Telegram, and will be posted online at www.pressherald.com.

Maine writers Richard Russo, Linda Greenlaw and Wesley McNair judged the competition. The seven semifinalists and three winners were honored with a luncheon today at Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center in Hallowell.

High-school juniors, either in Maine or home-schooled, were invited to submit a short story, essay or poem of 1,500 words or less. This year, 218 entries were received from 65 high schools statewide.

The contest began four years ago to draw attention to Maine's then-new community college system, and to focus on writing as an important skill for all students, said John Fitzsimmons, president of the Maine Community College System. The first panel of judges included legendary horror writer Stephen King and his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

"This contest started the year after we created the system (out of the former technical college system) and we wanted to raise our visibility in high schools around the state," Fitzsimmons said. "During the contest's four years, we've seen a 55 percent increase in the number of kids coming directly from high schools (to a Maine community college.)"

Portland Press Herald Staff Writer Ray Routhier contributed to this report.