Coastal Academy eighth-grade student Fiona McEachron earned national recognition through the 2026 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Promising Young Writers Contest. Fiona received the contest’s highest distinction, “First Class,” recognizing exceptional expression of ideas, language use, and unique voice in writing. Coastal Academy middle school English teacher Lara DeHaven nominated Fiona and recently joined the National Council of Teachers of English.“I’m so proud of Fiona and this incredible accomplishment,” said DeHaven. “Fiona's writing reflects creativity, thoughtfulness, and a strong personal voice.” Approximately 200 students from 30 states, Puerto Rico, South Africa, and South Korea were nominated for this year’s competition. Fiona was recognized among the top young writers in the nation and is featured on the NCTE website alongside other First Class recipients by state.