Mission Statement
HP LitFest strives to inspire and encourage students, teachers, and the community to celebrate language in its artfully written, spoken, and sung forms. We believe literary writing offers unique insight into the articulation of human experience and has its value not only in the story that it tells, but also in how the story is told. The annual festival showcases and provides access to professional writers who offer substantive artistic content and inspiration to our school district community.
History
In 1995, the Highland Park Literary Festival was born from a collaboration between interested parents and the English Department of Highland Park High School in Dallas. The HP LitFest is categorized as a 501(c)3 organization, and tax deductible contributions are greatly appreciated.
At the heart of the festival are over 75 workshops between students and accomplished novelists, journalists, poets, songwriters, and playwrights. Also, at a student-run open-mic night, students perform their own works. A writing contest and special awards breakfast recognizes outstanding student works of poetry, fiction, and narrative non-fiction.
Finally, the festival offers a free public keynote speaking event of reading and conversation.
The HP LitFest is made possible with the cooperation of the HPHS English faculty and by generous donations from La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, HP Arts, PC-TAG, HPHS PTA, HPISD families and Barbara Hunt Crow.
Board of Directors, 2024-2025
Executive Commitee
- Ashley Blanchette (co-chair)
- Julie Melihercik (co-chair)
- Carrie Jewell (treasurer)
- Laurie Martin (secretary)
- TBA (publicity)
- Renne Lokey (development chair)
- Margaret Lesesne (parliamentarian and 30th Anniversary Liaison)
- Haley DeVault (workshop co-chair)
- Kyle Huckaby (workshop co-chair)
Committee
- Angie Hudes (awards breakfast and bulletin board)
- Caroline Trotman (hospitality co-chair)
- Allyn Waid (hospitality co-chair)
- Carolyn Kuhnel (book sales)
- Kathy Maxwell (book sales)
- Katharine Friguletto (community event)
- Sarah Thomas (elementary school liaison)
- Anne Brooksher-Yen (elementary school liaison)
- Renne Lokey (flick fest)
- Julie Parolisi (flick fest)
- Kortney Nelson (historian)
- Zoe Williams (member at large)
- Carrie Hamilton (open mic night co-chair)
- Julie Nance (open mic night co-chair)
- Rachel Wallace (parent book club liason)
- Christina Bell (parent book club liason)
- Chris Palmer (presenters dinner chair)
- Jenn Hampton (registrar)
- Dana Manley (travel coordinator)
- Suzie Forsberg (volunteer co-chair)
- Jane Wallingford (volunteer co-chair)
- Julie Lin (webmaster)
- Missy Finger (print production chair)
Faculty Advisors
- Amy Brown
- Rachel Pullen
