KNME-TV, Channel 5 recently announced the winners of Reading Rainbow’s 11th Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. Open to children in kindergarten, first, second and third grades, the story submissions could be fact or fiction, prose or poetry, and they could also have math or science themes.
This contest was designed to encourage, challenge, and reward children for telling their own stories, in their own words and with their own pictures.
KNME-TV awarded a total of 12 prizes – presented to the top three entries from each grade level. The grand prize entry from each grade level will be sent to the national contest. Every contest entrant received a special certificate of achievement signed by LeVar Burton, host of “Reading Rainbow.”
A total of 179 entries were received from around the state. Contest judges included:
Rob Cotton, community relations manager, Barnes & Noble; Judy Puglise, Learning Is Fun, retired teacher; Elizabeth Haskett, assistant director, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Public Library System; Margaret Edmundson, professional storyteller, New Mexico Storyteller Association; Ana Baca, children’s book author and communications manager, Bueno Foods; and Kathleen McVicker, retired teacher and KNME-TV community advisory council member.
Additionally, UNM College of Education’s “Teaching of Writing” class prescreened the stories. Hadar Ma'yan, Language, Literacy & Sociocultural Studies Department, was course instructor.
“Congratulations to all the children who entered,” said Hollie Lovely, KNME-TV Ready To Learn coordinator. “This contest encourages children to write and illustrate a story and the children of New Mexico have many stories to tell. The outpouring of creativity was fantastic and inspiring. This contests continues to be one of the many successful literacy efforts in which KNME-TV participates.”
The 179 entries were received from the following communities:
118 - Albuquerque
16 - Santa Fe
11 - Los Lunas
5 – Edgewood
5 – Rio Rancho
3 each from – Belen, Kirtland, Los Alamos, Moriarty and Santa Cruz
Other cities represented were: Bosque Farms, Cedar Crest, Cimarron, Lamy, Pojoaque, Sandia Park, Ute Park
Local contest prizes were provided by Learning is Fun, Bound to be Read, pediatric dentists Joseph B. Meckler and Gary A. Meckler, children’s book author Ana Baca and KNME-TV5.
The New Mexico winners are:
KINDERGARTEN:
Grand Prize - Zoe Katherine Burgett,”Athena’s Story” - Age 6, Albuq.
2nd Place - Angelo Joseph Cecco, “Super Cat” - Age 6, Albuq.
3rd Place - Ryan Romero, “Ryan’s Bestest Stuft Anomol” - Age 6, Albuq.
FIRST GRADE:
Grand Prize - Cameron Emms, “Space” - Age 7, Albuq.
2nd Place - Danielle Pierce, “The Stormy Day” - Age 6, Albuq.
3rd Place - Gareth Bonn, “Crossing The Arabian Sea” - Age 6, Sandia Park
SECOND GRADE:
Grand Prize - Jenna Siegel,”Journey To The Magical World” - Age 7, Albuq.
2nd Place - Ryan Vanderham, “The Two Ghosts” - Age 7, Santa Fe
3rd Place - Holly Davis, “Slick The Coyote” - Age 8, Albuq.
THIRD GRADE:
Grand Prize - David Velazquez, “Stanley’s Stinky Feet” - Age 8, Edgewood
2nd Place - Marissa Cordova, “Cootsie Caboo The Cool Kangaroo” - Age 8, Albuq.
3rd Place - CheyAnne Haynes, “The Perfect Pet” - Age 9, Rio Rancho
LOCAL PRIZES
1st Place (awarded in each grade level)
· KNME-TV will videotape the child reading his or her winning story for a spot to air on KNME-TV during the Summer months
· Story Writing Kit donated by Learning is Fun
· A Journal donated by pediatric dentists Joseph B. Meckler, DDS and
Gary A. Meckler, DDS
2nd PLACE – (in each grade level)
· A Classroom Visit / Reading, plus an autographed book, by local children’s book author Ana Baca
· Story Writing Kit donated by Learning is Fun
· A Journal donated by pediatric dentists Joseph B. Meckler and
Gary A. Meckler
3rd Place - (in each grade level)
· Story Writing Kit donated by Learning is Fun
· Gift Card donated by Bound To Be Read
· A Journal donated by pediatric dentists Joseph B. Meckler, DDS and
Gary A. Meckler, DDS
The prize for the national winners will include a Reading Rainbow library set, featuring ten episodes on DVD and related feature books. Each national winner’s story is posted on the PBS Kids Web site.
Contact: Evy Todd, (505) 277-1218
Posted by scarr at June 14, 2005 12:55 PM