Young Authors Receive Writing Achievement Awards
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., April 23, 2010 – The 29th annual Southeast Missouri Writing Achievement Awards program honored 27 of the best young writers from among nearly 70 schools in southeast Missouri and the St. Louis metropolitan area April 17 in the University Center at Southeast Missouri State University.
The program began in 1982 by the University’s Department of English, which sponsors the annual program to encourage students in grades four through 12 in their writing.
This year’s ceremony featured Lindy Lebonick as its keynote speaker. Lebonick, a Southeast graduate student in the Department of English, shared with the students her written work from when she was in grade school, encouraging them to continue to hone their writing skills and to be proud of their accomplishments.
The winning entries, judged by a team of Southeast Missouri State University English faculty, represent some of the best young writers in the state. At the ceremony, first-place awards and honorable-mention awards were presented to writers of fiction, essays and poetry in three grade ranges: 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. The winning entries were published in booklet form and presented to the winners and their schools. All winners also received special T-shirts and certificates of achievement.
For more information on the awards, contact Dr. Karen Carcia, assistant professor of English at Southeast, at (573) 651-2618.
2009 Southeast Missouri Writing Achievement Award Winners
Poetry, Grades 4-6
First Place: Matthew Woodfin, Leopold R-3
Honorable Mention: Morgyn Kozemczak, Meramec Heights Elementary
Honorable Mention: Rachel Juhlin, Nell Holcomb R-IV
Essays, Grades 4-6
First Place: Klara Beel, Leopold R-3
Honorable Mention: Jared Landewee, Leopold Elementary
Honorable Mention: Savannah Shields, West Elementary
Fiction, Grades 4-6
First Place: Brooke Hogard, Perry County Middle School
Honorable Mention: Kevin Rosenthal, Glenridge Elementary
Honorable Mention: Shirley Zhao, Glenridge Elementary
Poetry, Grades 7-9
First Place: Rachel Bierschwal, Nell Holcomb R-IV
Honorable Mention: Kylie Christensen, Jackson Jr. High School
Honorable Mention: Joseph Thomas Radford, Woodland R-IV
Essays, Grades 7-9
First Place: Eudora Olsen, Clayton High School
Honorable Mention: Sarah Stroup, Cape Junior High School
Honorable Mention: Eva Trunzo, Jackson Jr. High School
Fiction, Grades 7-9
First Place: Camille Otto, Ste. Genevieve Middle School
Honorable Mention: Kayla Hampton, Iron County C-4 High School
Honorable Mention: Riley Duncan, Nell Holcomb, R-IV
Poetry, Grades 10-12
First Place: Matt Floyd, Clearwater R-1
Honorable Mention: Shelby Fletcher, Lafayette High School
Honorable Mention: Angela Goodwin, Parkway North High School
Essays, Grades 10-12
First Place: Mariya Khezri, Parkway North High School
Honorable Mention: Miten H. Soni, Parkway North High School
Honorable Mention: Mia Pohlman, Perryville Senior High
Fiction, Grades 10-12
First Place: Rachel Beilsmith, Parkway North High School
Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Carr, Parkway North High School
Honorable Mention: Arielle Sutton, Iron County C-4 High School
