Haugen Foundation seeks writings, artwork

The Taylor Haugen Foundation is accepting new and previously written essays, poems, letters and artwork for a compilation of community works.

Taylor Haugen died on Aug. 30 from injuries sustained during a football game while playing wide receiver for Niceville High School.

Submissions should focus on either Haugen's personal mantra of "Don't Quit - Never Give Up" or how his life and death has affected the writer or artist's commitment to family, faith or community.

"We have heard that students have used Taylor's story as the basis for their college essays, as English writing assignments, and in church youth groups as the foundation for discussions and bible study," Brian Haugen, Taylor's father and president of the foundation, said in a news release.

"We are now making a concerted effort to collect previously written essays, letters and poems, and encouraging the community to submit new works, so we may share these stories as a tribute to Taylor and the impact he made."

Letters, essays, poems, and artwork can be submitted via e-mail to info@taylorhaugen.org or haugen@emailfamily.com, or by U.S. mail to The Taylor Haugen Foundation, P.O. Box 101, Valparaiso, FL 32580.

According to the news release, all submitted entries become the property of the foundation and may be published and used with notice, and submissions may be edited for clarity and length.