Charles County Student Accepted Into Nationally Ranked Arts Academy

NEWBURG, Md. — Local eighth grader Payton “Ronnie” Moore is one step closer to her dream of becoming a writer with her recent acceptance into Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan.

Moore was born and raised in Southern Maryland and grew up attending local schools in Charles County. Payton Moore has consistently maintained Honor Roll recognition throughout her academic career while taking advanced and honors coursework, including Algebra I, Honors Language Arts, Honors U.S. History, Spanish II, and advanced science and computer science classes. Though Moore excelled academically, it was her love of writing that drove her to apply to Interlochen for high school.

Moore discovered a deep love of reading during elementary school, especially fantasy and mythology series. She then began creating her own stories. Already in her young career, Moore’s writing accomplishments include publication in the Young Writers anthology “Hunted: The Chase Chronicles” for her original story “Nightcrawler,” along with receiving the 2023 Young Writers Creativity Award for Talent in Writing. Moore is also active in drama club, Dungeons & Dragons, Gender and Sexualities Alliances Network (GSA), peer tutoring programs and seasonal school activities.

Interlochen Center for the Arts is recognized as one of the premier arts education institutions in the United States. Founded in 1928, the Michigan boarding school serves talented young artists from across the country and around the world through intensive arts training combined with college-preparatory academics. Interlochen is also ranked as the No. 1 arts high school on Niche.

Though the school is highly selective, Moore said that her parents’ encouragement and values are what ultimately encouraged her to apply. With their support and on the advice of her guidance counselor, she decided to go for it.

“I just said, why not?” Moore wrote in an email to The BayNet. “What’s the worst they can say, no? My family has always encouraged me to try things, even if they seem intimidating or impossible at first. They always say to just try. Try the new food. Try the sport. Try the class. Try the opportunity. Worst-case scenario, at least you know you tried. So I did.”

At Interlochen, Moore will study alongside other artistic-minded young writers to develop an artistic voice, storytelling techniques, literary analysis skills and professional writing portfolios.

“I hope Interlochen helps me continue growing not only as a writer, but as a person. Being surrounded by other creative people who are passionate about what they love feels inspiring to me. I want to learn how to strengthen my voice, challenge myself creatively, and someday create stories that make other people feel the same comfort, excitement and imagination that writing has always given me,” Moore wrote.

Anyone interested in supporting Moore’s creative writing education and supporting her dream to tell stories can visit the family’s GoFundMe page.

“Creative writing means so much more to me than just telling stories. Writing allows people to feel seen, understood, and connected, even if they have never met each other. The support I’ve received has reminded me that people really do believe in me, and that means everything,” Moore said.