The student: Connor Cooper, 12

School: Clarksville Middle

Special achievement: His poem about Sept. 11 was published in Young American Poetry Digest.

How long has he been writing poetry? He began working on poetry in English class last year. His teacher encouraged him to submit his poem - which also appeared in the school newsletter and in Pediatric News - for consideration. "Everyone kept saying that it was a good poem," and that encouraged him to send in his work.

What his poem says: "It was about feelings of wondering what happened, wondering who did it and why ... [and] if it would keep on happening."

What he likes to read: Comedy is his favorite genre. He recently read A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears, a fantasy by Jules Feiffer. "It's a book about a prince on a quest, and he doesn't know what the quest is about or anything. It was funny, and there were a lot of very strange things that happened."

Other activities: He plays on a traveling hockey team, Nelson Metro Maple Leafs.