Writing for a purpose isn't the easiest skill to learn but 10 Mariner Middle School students have a better understanding of what it takes – and they received recognition for their work.

"They were very eager to do this and the writing flowed," said teacher Diane Albanese, who entered the students in the 2013 Scholastic Art & Writing Contest regional contest.

Two students, David Collard and Rebecca Rowe, won Gold Key awards. David won for his flash fiction story, "You think you know"; Rebecca won in a journalism category for a story about Hurricane Sandy. Their writing was automatically entered at the national judging level.

Other winners were Heidi Knutsen and Allie Mechlinski who won Silver Key awards. Heidi won for poetry, and Allie for journalism.

Earning honorable mentions were Alvina Afrifa, Iseabal Cryne, Demetrius Hoffman, Shane Minard, Matthew Cole Smith and Nicholas Voyce for categories that included flash fiction, poetry and science fiction.

The eighth-grade honor students chose their categories and were honored at a reception in Dover, Albanese said.

"The contest had a very interesting and rippling effect because they know their writing was valued," she said.