The 2007 NYSS event was held Feb. 1 - 3 2007 in Pigeon Forge, TN

The emcee for the event was 2006 Grand Torch Bearer, Stephanie Strauss from Midland Texas, who did an amazing job introducing all the tellers. The week was full of bonding and learning as the workshops from the day blended into late night storytelling games.

The highlight of the event was Friday evening’s performance by each of the youth tellers. The quality of telling was inspiring and made the judge’s job extremely difficult. The culmination of the event was the announcement of:

The 2007 Torch Bearers

Grand Torch Bearer, Ben Kemper - Boise, ID
High School Division Torch Bearer: Hannah Wynne - Valley City, OH
Middle School Division Torch Bearer: Abigail Pauley - Amherst, OH
Elementary Division Torch Bearer: Aubrey Watts - Highland, UT
Tandem Torch Bearers: Maggie Lowe - Mt. Airy, NC and Heather Greene - Hickory, NC

This year was a record year for entries with hundreds of submissions nationwide. Kudos to all the entrants and congratulations to all the following finalists.

Tandem:
Mia Valdes, Savanah, GA
Jenna Blanchard, Savanah, GA
Grace Eckmann, Savanah, GA

Will Sox, West Columbia, SC
Callee Liscuski, Cayce, SC

Maggie Lowe, Mt. Airy, NC
Heather Greene, Hickory, NC

Rebecca Emory, Bellevue, NE
Andrew Emory, Bellevue, NE

Elementary
Hannah Smyth, Nashville, TN
Cecilia Gutierrez, San Antonio, TX
Daniel Carr, Tampa, FL
Aubrey Watts, Highland, UT

Middle School
Alex Bowcut, Highland, UT
Keith Kibby, Frisco, TX
Abigail Pauley, Amherst, OH
Zayven Reese, Largo, FL

High School
Joanna Guy, Swanton, MD
Ben Kemper, Boise, ID
Cathy Moore, Ft. McCoy, FL
Hannah Wynne, Valley City, OH