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HCC-Central’s student’s book selected as finalist in National Book Challenge

 The Child Development Program at Central College has learned that the work of one of its students has been recognized in a national competition. As part of her Emergent Literacy (CDEC 1356) class this past fall, Maria Gomez designed, developed, and personally wrote her very own children’s book. Her instructor, Dr. Pamela Norwood, subsequently sent those books to the Nationwide Learning Company to be professionally bound or “published.” This spring, Gomez notification that her book, “ A Visit to Grandpa and Grandma’s,” was selected as one of the finalist in the company’s contest for this academic year. As a finalist, she received a letter of recognition and a certificate. If her book is chosen as a winner, it will be featured in the company’s product catalogs for the next school year and Maria will receive a $250.00 higher education scholarship. In addition, samples of her book will be used to promote student publishing at various grade levels. Winners of the contest will be selected and announced the first week of May.

When told of her accomplishment, Gomez stated. “I am very pleased. I’m so excited I don’t know what to say. I wrote the book in memory of my mom because she passed away two years ago and I just wanted my kids to have a memory of their grandmother so they wouldn’t forget her. My boys are seven and six years old right now. I’ve already called and told my dad and he was so happy he cried. My two sisters were also proud of me. There are eight brothers and sisters and I’m the youngest so this is pretty significant for all of my family.”

Having had her husband’s full and complete support for the last two years, Gomez will be graduating in May with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Child Development and expects to open her own childcare center in the very near future.