Marshall honors winners of annual young writers contest

The Central West Virginia Writing Project at Marshall University has again teamed up with Marshall University’s June Harless Center, the West Virginia Department of Education and the University of Charleston to host the West Virginia Young Writers Contest, promoting writing in the state’s K-12 schools.  Winners at the elementary, middle and high school levels were honored during a Young Writers Day ceremony May 8 at the University of Charleston. As part of Young Writers Day, students also had the opportunity to participate in workshops with local, published West Virginia authors.

“The West Virginia Young Writers Contest has honored excellent writing by our state’s students for more than 40 years,” said Maggie Luma, chief of staff for the June Harless Center at Marshall and director of the Young Writers Contest. “Having an event like Young Writers Day celebrates the incredible talent of our students and gives them a platform for their creative voices to be heard.

“I hope that by hearing from published WV authors in intimate workshop settings at the event and by being recognized on stage for their accomplishments, students leave Young Writers Day inspired to continue writing.”

The contest was founded in 1984 as part of a commitment to writing in all subjects, as well as publishing, displaying and celebrating students’ writing. Students in first through 12^th grade were invited to submit entries in fiction, nonfiction, narrative, memoir or essay. First-place winners in each county advanced to a state-level competition.

Winners were selected by a panel of certified West Virginia teachers, who scored entries based on traits of effective writing such as ideas, organization, voice, word choice and writing conventions. All winners also demonstrated exceptional creativity and mastered the art of storytelling. Statewide first place winners receive $100, second place state winners receive $50, and 3rd place state winners receive $25. County-level winners are awarded a medal and a certificate.

Local organizations who sponsor the event include Headline Books, WV Writers, Inc., A New Chapter Bookstore, The West Virginia Book Company, and the Central West Virginia Writing Project at Marshall University.

Winners included the following:

First and second grade:

First place: Karson Artis, Wayne Elementary School in Wayne County, for “My Favorite Place.”

Second place: Dylan Lipscomb, Kingwood Elementary in Preston County, for “The Lonely Octopus.”

Third place: Preston Petrice, Beverly Elementary School in Randolph County, for “The Buzzer Beater.”

Third and fourth grade:

First place: Joshua Ramsey, Talcott Elementary in Summers County, for “Marvin’s Smelly Problem.”

Second place: Brice Ullom, Sand Hill Elementary in Marshall County, for “Selling Eggs for My Nest Egg.”

Third place: Mason Karp, Lewis County, for “A Family Tradition.”

Fifth and sixth grade:

First place: Jaela Starr, Burch PreK-8 School in Mingo County, for “Blank Space.”

Second place: Isaiah Fitts, Summers County, for “Standing Strong.”

Third place: Adair Cheek, Berkeley County, for “Square by Square.”

Seventh and eighth grade: 

First place: Gio Maniscarco, Darvis Thomas Middle School in Tucker County, for “The Pyro Accident.”

Second place: Zoey Sturm, Wood County, for “Car Crash.”

Third place: Ava Holman, Lewis County, for “Warmth.”

Ninth and 10th grade: 

First place: Chanel Dowell, Elkins High School in Randolph County, for “Otra Vez.”

Second place: Amber Arora, Cabell Midland High School in Cabell County, for “An Echo of Lost Memories.”

Third place: Paige Totten, Greenbrier County, for “The Hands That Made Me.”

11^th and 12^th grade:

First place: Kerri Childs, Lincoln High School in Harrison County, for “Love Doesn’t End After Death.”

Second place: Hailee Johnson, Tyler Consolidated High School in Tyler County, for “The Barrell.”

Third place: Deedra Groves, Brooke County, for “Morning Peaches.”