One of our greatest joys in producing the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival is Students Day, when we bring 6 - 8 authors and thought leaders to share their experiences and ideas with thousands of students across the Sonoma Valley.
Each year, we begin the Festival with this celebration of community, literacy, and inspiration designed specifically for local students. World renowned writers including Doris Kearns Goodwin, Billy Collins, Anthony Ray Hinton, Astronaut Scott Kelly and Simon Winchester have enthralled gymnasiums full of students with their stories. Additionally, thousands of books written by the presenting authors are given free to the students, all paid for with private donations.
The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival sincerely thanks the Vadasz Family Foundation for their continued generous support of Students Day. This support, plus many individual contributors allow us to produce Students Day each year.
Sonoma Valley schools who have participated in Students Day include Sonoma Valley High School, Sonoma Academy, Adele Harrison and Altimira Middle Schools, Archbishop Hanna High School.
have explored new ideas in person with our award-winning writers and thought leaders
written by the presenting authors have been given to students, all paid for with private funds
have discussed a myriad of topics and various disciplines on Students Day
Joseph Silvi was a 15-year-old sophomore at Sonoma Valley High School intent on becoming an engineer when he met Pedro Irazoqui, PhD, after Pedro spoke at the 2018 Sonoma Valley Authors Festival Students Day. At the time, Dr. Irazoqui was the Director of the Center for Implantable Devices, Associate Head for Research, and Professor at Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.
When Joseph discussed his desire to become an engineer, Dr. Irazoqui offered him a paid summer internship once he turned 16. Having just passed his driving exam, Joseph and his father drove cross country to Purdue University in Indiana, and Joseph went to work for Dr. Irazoqui and his team for the summer. Joseph graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 2021 and graduated in 2025 from UC Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Engineering.
"The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival Students Day will remain one of the highlights of the entire 20-year history of Sonoma Academy!"
"You truly did a good deed in bringing the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival to Sonoma Valley High School. I was literally moved to tears to hear the excited comments, to answer this request for one more book, and to see how engaged our students were with the wonderful speakers. I know you will be hearing from the students as well but thank you from the bottom of my heart-school should be like this every day!"
We’re pleased to have welcomed the following authors and speakers to the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival Students Day.
The cost to produce Students Day is substantial — approximately $150,000 each year. But it remains an integral component of the full Sonoma Valley Authors Festival experience, allowing us to contribute meaningfully to the inspiration and education of young readers. Please consider supporting this effort by becoming a Festival Sponsor or Donor today.
Additionally, we work with many Donor Advised Funds, Family Foundations, and Community Foundations to make Students Day a continuing success.
Students Day also depends upon the continued the support of the local community. This year, we hope new funding will allow us to serve even more students, including young scholars from nearby Santa Rosa schools.
Sonoma Valley Authors Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID 84-4846165
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