JCCC student Kaitlin Foley is a published author at age 17. Her research paper, Social Networking and the Digital Divide: Why Internet Access Is Vital to Worldwide Communication, is included in a composition textbook, The Norton Pocket Book of Writing by Students, released in February 2010.

Foley's paper demonstrates the process of drafting and redrafting a research paper in the chapter, A Work in Progress. A student in Dr. Andrea Broomfield's Composition II class in spring 2009, Foley wrote two drafts of her paper for a class assignment.

"The editor of Norton's composition textbook division, Marilyn Moller, contacted me last spring to ask if I had any exceptional student whose writing might be considered for their forthcoming textbook on student writing, and I suggested Kaitlin," Broomfield said.

Submission for publications required another draft from Foley after the end of the semester, plus Broomfield's comments toward improvement for each draft. The work between Broomfield and Foley fit nicely with the goal of the book to honor students' writing and the teachers who make it possible.

"I am thrilled to have my paper accepted but also nervous because I never planned to see my rough drafts in print." Foley said.

According to Broomfield's information from Norton, it is unusual for a community college student to be published in a nationally distributed composition textbook, especially one from the Midwest who was only 16 when she wrote the essay. Norton is planning a reception in honor of Foley at JCCC in March.

Foley is a home-schooled high school student concurrently enrolled at JCCC. After graduation in May, she plans to complete a baccalaureate degree at a four-year school, pursuing studies in English, biology or veterinary medicine.

"But writing is my passion," Foley said.

Edited by Melissa A. Goldthwaite, The Norton Pocket Book of Writing by Students contains 33 essays and nine poems written by students from across the country, including a poem written by Barack Obama when he was a student.