PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5 June 2020
For more information, contact Kay McAdam, 269.423.4771, ext. 4108, kmcadam@vbdl.org

TEEN CREATIVE WRITING CHALLENGE ANNOUNCES WINNERS

DECATUR, MICHIGAN – – – – The sponsors of the Southwest Michigan Teen Creative Writing Challenge are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s competition.

The Challenge, sponsored by Cass District Library, Dowagiac District Library, Lawton Public Library, Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library, Paw Paw District Library, and Van Buren District Library awarded over $1800 in five categories: Comics, Cover Art, Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Poetry.  First place winners receive $100, second place, $50; and third place winners receive $25.

Katie Blomeke, Mattawan, received first place honors in the Cover Art Division. Her art will serve as the cover for a professionally printed compilation of all winning entries. Second place honors were awarded to Kenzi Canseco, Bangor, and third place to Allison Mroczek, Decatur.

Winners and their home libraries are:

Fiction – 7^th and 8^th Grades

1^st Place:        Jocelyn Suranyi                    VBDL Bloomingdale Branch

2^nd Place:       Mikayla Michalak                 VBDL Antwerp Sunshine Branch – Mattawan

3^rd Place:       Ella Hanley                            VBDL Antwerp Sunshine Branch – Mattawan

 

Fiction – 9^th and 10^th Grades

1^st Place:        Miriam Gartland                   Paw Paw District Library

2^nd Place:       Emalie Caley                         Marcellus TWP Wood Memorial Library

3^rd Place:       Connie Grabemeyer            Dowagiac District Library

 

Fiction – 11^th and 12^th Grades

1^st Place:        Martha Schaller                    Dowagiac District Library

2^nd Place:       Brendan Covyeou                Niles District Library

3^rd Place:       Ema Somers                         Lawton Public Library

 

Flash Fiction – 7^th and 8^th Grades

1^st Place:        Natalie Craft                          Paw Paw District Library

2^nd Place:       Abygail Bulley                       VBDL Bangor Branch

3^rd Place:       Ezabella Lemke                    New Buffalo Township Library

 

Flash Fiction – 9^th and 10^th Grades

1^st Place:        Katie Blomeke                      VBDL Antwerp Sunshine Branch – Mattawan

2^nd Place:       Aidan Bickel                          Cass District Library

3^rd Place:       Kelsee Sharp                        Cass District Library

 

Flash Fiction – 11^th and 12^th Grades

1^st Place:        Martha Schaller                    Dowagiac District Library

2^nd Place:       Henry Endymion                  Marcellus TWP Wood Memorial Library

3^rd Place:       Lilly Yeater                            Cass District Library

 

Poetry – 7^th and 8^th Grades

1^st Place:        Isobelle Mick                         VBDL Antwerp Sunshine Branch – Mattawan

2^nd Place:       Faith Wooley                         Paw Paw District Library

 

Poetry – 9^th and 10^th Grades

1^st Place:        Chloe Thomas                      Cass District Library

2^nd Place:       Kelsee Sharp                        Cass District Library

3^rd Place:       Emalie Caley                         Marcellus TWP Wood Memorial Library

 

Poetry – 11^th and 12^th Grades

1^st Place:        Martha Schaller                    Dowagiac District Library

2^nd Place:       Katelyn Wierenga                 Paw Paw District Library

3^rd Place:       Henry Endymion                  Marcellus TWP Wood Memorial Library

 

Comics – All Grades

1^st Place:        Hayden Groth                       Dowagiac District Library

 

The official award ceremony originally scheduled for June was cancelled to restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Winners are invited to record short videos of them reading a portion of their work or discussing their art that can be shared on the Challenge’s Facebook page. Videos may be submitted to TCWC@vbdl.org. For more information, contact any sponsoring library or email TCWC@vbdl.org.

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