Cora Walsh, a middle school student from Rockville Centre on Long Island, has won the grand prize in the middle school category of the NPR Student Podcast Challenge for her podcast titled “Dyslexia and MEE.” The submission was selected from nearly 1,500 entries submitted from 42 states and the District of Columbia.
Walsh’s podcast chronicles her personal experience navigating a learning struggle that lasted approximately five years before receiving a formal diagnosis of dyslexia. During her younger years, she found reading significantly more difficult than her peers despite investing considerable effort in improving her skills. Her podcast takes listeners through her tutoring sessions, including recordings of her working through words over video calls and receiving guidance from her tutor. She has been receiving specialized tutoring support for two years.
In recent months, Walsh has experienced notable progress in her reading abilities and confidence. Her mother observed a significant milestone earlier this summer when Walsh began reading the first book in the Hunger Games series voluntarily, something that had never occurred before. The family witnessed Walsh reading for enjoyment during travel and even reading aloud to her pet rabbit.
Walsh, who aspires to attend Princeton and study neuroscience before pursuing medicine, expressed enthusiasm about her podcast win and her personal growth. She credited her success to persistent effort and maintaining a positive outlook. Her mother praised her daughter’s work ethic and attitude throughout the diagnostic and learning process.
Walsh hopes her podcast will help demystify dyslexia for younger listeners who may be navigating similar challenges and learning differences. She has already borrowed the second book in the Hunger Games series from the library and continues her educational journey.
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