WPBS-DT, Watertown Public Broadcasting, is pleased to recognize 12 outstanding young authors for their award-winning stories in the 2013 PBS Kids Go! Writer's Contest. The winners were chosen from over 90 local entrants. The stories were judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustration.
The PBS KIDS GO! Writer’s Contest is a national competition designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning. The effort encourages children in grades K-3 in our area and communities across the country to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original stories and illustrations. The PBS KIDS GO! Writer’s Contest is produced by PBS KIDS and managed by WNED-TV with corporate funding from Easy Student Publishing and promotional support from Highlights for Children.
The annual Contest encourages children grades Kindergarten through Third Grade to use their imaginations and apply their writing and artistic talents by creating original storybooks. The stories and illustrations these children created not only impressed our judges, they showed the potential these children possess as future writers. Contest entries are first judged at the local level, with local winners advancing to the national competition.
Kindergarten
First Place: ”How to Catch a Leprechaun” by Aiden Pominville, Brantingham
Second Place: “The Molly Story” by Iris Taylor, Lorraine
Third Place: “The Very Lonely Tooth” by Connor Grenier, Ogdensburg
First Grade
First Place: “My Sledding Accident” by Jorlan Rumfelt, Watertown
Second Place: “The Lost Bunny” by Kathryn Roginski, Watertown
Third Place: “My Sister, Lucie” by Lillie Andre’, Watertown
Second Grade
First Place: “The Smart Leprechaun” by Lillian Kimball, Watertown
Second Place: “The Kangaroo That Played Soccer” by Cody Meinzer, Watertown
Third Place: “The Crocodile That Couldn’t Swim” by Bryn Murphy, Watertown
Third Grade
First Place: “Hockey Town” by Cooper Bennett, Hammond
Second Place: “A Barbie Camping Trip” by Abigail Bresett, Hammond
Third Place: “The King Race” by Kennon Gardner, Hammond
“WPBS is proud of all the winners of this year’s contest. It is obvious they put a lot of time and effort into creating their stories”, said Teri-Gene Conlin, Outreach Manager at WPBS-DT. “It is wonderful to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage them to continue writing.” said Mrs. Conlin.
We would like to thank our local judges for this year’s contest, all who donated their time to read and score our stories. They are, in alphabetical order:
Emily Owen, Youth Services Consultant-North Country Library System
Ashley Pickett, Children’s Librarian-Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library
Mary Sawyer, Circulation Director-Watertown Daily Times
We would also like to thank Wal-Mart, Watertown, for generously donating a cake for our winners and their families to enjoy at the Award Ceremony, which was held at the WPBS station on May 22, 2013.
Every child who entered the contest received a Certificate of Achievement and a certificate for a free issue of Highlights magazine. The winning authors in addition received a tote bag filled with PBS KIDS GO! Writer’s Contest items and books from WPBS-DT. Winners of the National Contest will be chosen in June 2013. The names of those authors will be announced in July 2013. The local award-winning stories will be able to be viewed online at www.wpbstv.org. All of us here at WPBS would like to congratulate our 2013 PBS KIDS GO! Writer’s Contest winners!
WPBS-DT is a non-profit public television station, serving Northern New York and Eastern Ontario, Canada. Our mission is to educate, entertain & inform, in order to enhance the lives of those we serve. WPBS-DT serves approximately 2.2 million viewers.
