Eighth grader Aspen Devir receives the first place award for her grade level from Nevada County Superintendent of Schools Scott Lay. Photo by Faith Yamamoto Every year Nevada County Superintendent of Schools hosts a Writing Tournament where students from local middle schools gather at the Miners Foundry for a day of writing. The tournament lasts most of the day as students compete in three categories: Informative Writing, Creative Writing, and Persuasive Writing. From left, Nevada City School District superintendent Monica Daugherty, Seven Hills seventh grader Amelia Regan, and Nevada County Superintendent of Schools Scott Lay. Provided photo A gathering of that sort was not possible this year, with COVID-19 restrictions, so NCSOS pivoted and created a new competition for young writers.