Wildewood Downs Announces 2026 Silver Pen Writing Competition Winners

At Wildewood Downs, we believe in fostering vital connections across generations and supporting the academic dreams of local Columbia students. We are thrilled to officially announce the winners of the 2026 Silver Pen Writing Competition, a signature writing competition dedicated to community engagement in the South Carolina Midlands.

Celebrating Academic Excellence in Richland County

On April 18th, 2026, Wildewood Downs hosted an awards dinner to honor our two winners, along with their friends and families. Each student was presented with a competition prize to assist with their upcoming college tuition and educational expenses as they transition to higher education.

The Silver Pen Writing Competition was established in 2012 by our parent company, The Maxwell Group. The program bridges the communication gap between Richland County high school seniors and our senior living community Members. This year, participants submitted 1,000-word essays on a topic carefully selected by a judging panel of Wildewood Downs Members.

A Decade of Giving Back to the Columbia Community

For over ten years, the Silver Pen program has remained committed to investing in the next generation of local leaders. To date, The Maxwell Group has awarded over $500,000 in financial support to high school seniors. We are proud to continue this tradition of community support and academic excellence right here in Columbia, SC.