SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- Marissa Stacholy, an eighth-grade student at First Montessori School of Atlanta and the daughter of Lisa and Jan Stacholy of Dunwoody, has been chosen as a national finalist in the River of Words Poetry & Art Contest. Sponsored by the Center for Environmental Literacy at Saint Mary's College of California, the contest is the largest international youth poetry and art competition in the world.

The judging panel, which included former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, selected less than 100 poems and pieces of art from tens of thousands of entries.

Marissa will receive a medal, and her poetry will be included in the ROW's anthology. A copy of the book will be donated in her name to First Montessori School of Atlanta and her public library branch.

ATLANTA -- The 11 talented local students who participated in this year's Atlanta Opera High School Opera Institute will give a special concert next month.

The institute, which is one of only a few programs of its kind in the U.S., puts high school students through a rigorous audition process and offers eight months of workshops, vocal coaching and other courses for young people who are interested in pursuing music careers.

In the three years the Atlanta Opera has offered the program, 11 of its graduates have gone on to study music at universities and conservatories across the country.

KENNESAW, Ga. -- The nominees for the 2012 Georgia Author of the Year Awards have been announced.

More than 100 authors have been nominated in 12 categories, including Short Stories, which is a new addition in 2012.

Seven local writers will face off to take home the top prize in the History category:

Douglas M. Frey
Marietta: The Gem City of Georgia
Frey works for Metropolitan Restoration, doing his part to preserve history in Cobb County. One of his projects includes his own house on Trammell Street near the historic Marietta Square.