YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Over the next three days, students from more than 200 local schools will be on Youngstown State University’s campus, celebrating their love of literacy.

It’s all part of the YSU English Festival.

The students spent the last several months reading the same books. Wednesday, they will engage in workshops, contests and discussions, and they will get to meet two of the authors.

Organizers say it is a unique experience where the students are encouraged to mute their phones and engage with their peers.

“I think it gives them a chance to share ideas, talk about what they noticed, what surprised them, and I hope they are pleasantly surprised by the fact that these other students are a lot like them,” said co-chair Jeff Buchanan.

Each festival day ends with an awards ceremony where the hard work and accomplishments of attending students are recognized.

Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report.