Every fall season since 2023, Central High School has hosted a scary story contest for the student body and staff. This fall, the contest was bigger than ever, featuring double the participants, prizes, and spirit of any year before. 

Ajak Whitlatch and Emma Park, the first and second place winners respectively, entered the contest not out of personal interest, but because they were given the task to do so as a graded assignment. Central’s longstanding lore and urban legends provided inspiration for the content of both of their stories.  

“I was really curious about the rumors that have to do with the big Central C in the middle, how if you touch it you don’t graduate, and how the first principal was buried underneath it,” Park said. 

Ever since its debut in 2023, the competition has gained popularity, which librarian Jennifer Kawecki attributes increases in prize money, as well as a genuine increase in interest due to word-and-mouth, and fun in reading and writing entries. As for the contest requirements for consideration, anything that took place within Central, between 150 and 200 words and that lacked any content deemed inappropriate was in play. 

“This year there were 106, I believe, and they were really, really good,” Kawecki said. 

Lex Stitson and Olivia Williams, both sophomores, are members of Central’s Book club, the group who judged the contest. Some common mistakes people made were violent and inappropriate content and failure to set stories within Central.  

Stitson said, “There were some stories that were really good, but were too long, or take place in (for example) a random field in Wyoming… They were good stories, but they didn’t meet the requirements.”  

A large number of stories were dismissed for similar reasons. The judges also said that most of the winning stories had a direct connection to Central’s lore. 

As of now, Central plans to hold another scary story contest in 2026, and many more years to come. Those who are good writers should consider entering, and those who enjoy reading and literature should consider joining the Book Club.