Authors recognized for great stories

It’s one thing to tell a story. It’s a completely different idea to capture that story in the written form for others to read.

Young writers from across Sweetwater County had a chance to put their stories down in written form for the Young Authors competition. Many of those authors showed great potential, while doing well at the state and county levels of competition.

Prior to the Wyoming Young Authors Competition, Sweetwater County School District No. 2 and No. 1 students competed at the district level and then at the county level.

Students who finished first at the district level advanced to the county level. Those who finished first at the county level went on to state.

Nonfiction, fiction and poetry entries were judged at each level. Judges looked at numerous areas including creativity, grammar, sentence structure and the overall creativity of the story.

“The district did very well,” Fredrick Schwartz, SCSD No. 2 young authors coordinator, said. “We had quite a few come out on top at the county level.”

A lot of those same winners went on to take honorable mentions at the state level.

All students who participated in the county competition received a feather quill, while the runners up were given medals, while the first-place winners were given a trophy and a certificate stating they were advancing to state.

“I would love to take credit for this, but unfortunately I can’t,” Schwartz said.

A lot of the work is either done in the classroom or at home, he said. It takes family and teacher support for students to excel in this particular program.

This was shown during the county-level awards ceremony. Schwartz said the children time and time again thanked their parents and teachers for helping them out.

A total of 37 Sweetwater County entries advanced to state. Schwartz said this is his first year at SCSD No. 2 and with the program so he didn’t know what to expect for the state entries.

“We did very well,” Schwartz said. “We got a lot of honorable mentions.”

He said a lot of these same children are in extracurricular activities. It is a real art form for them to put those extracurricular experiences into the written word so everyone can read it. The kids were really putting their hearts into their work. Of course, there were more elementary-level entries than high-school entries, which is normal.

“For me, it’s an expression of creativity,” Schwartz said. “I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the stories.”

Schwartz wants to encourage children of all ages to continue writing.

“Some are on par with most successful writers,” Schwartz said. “I see a lot of potential, if they follow it.”

State Young Authors Results

Third Grade:

Fiction

Honorable Mention: “L’IL MISS,” by Nate Bailey, Harrison Elementary School, Green River

Fourth Grade:

Poetry

First Place: “9 Lives: A Cat’s Tale,” by Aubrielle Maes, Overland Elementary, Rock Springs

Nonfiction

Honorable Mention: “The Worst Day of My Life,” by Rylie Johnson, Harrison Elementary School, Green River

Fiction

First Place: “Monster in a Can,” by Shane Meats, Sage Elementary School, Rock Springs

Sixth Grade:

Poetry

Honorable Mention: “The Life of Nature,: by Yesenia Vicencio-Delgadillo, Pilot Butte Elementary, Rock Springs

Nonfiction

Honorable Mention: “The Day My Life Changed,” by Victoria Shaw, Monroe Intermediate School, Green River

Fiction

Honorable Mention: “Quest to Go Home,” by Samantha Demedeiros, Monroe Elementary, Green River

Seventh Grade:

Nonfiction

Honorable Mention: “Spoons, Stitches, and Sisters,” by Shelby Madsen, Farson-Eden Middle School, Farson

Eighth Grade:

Nonfiction

Honorable Mention: “The Antelope Hunt,” by Karson Keeler, Farson-Eden Middle School, Farson

Ninth Grade:

Poetry

Honorable Mention: “Life is a Yin Yang of Pain and Joy,” by Elizabeth Murdock, Green River High School, Green River

Nonfiction

Honorable Mention: “Good Morning Princess, Life is Beautiful,” by Mary Harris, Green River High School, Green River

10th Grade:

Poetry

Honorable Mention: “Behind Every Smile,” by Aubie Ellis, Rock Springs High School, Rock Springs

11th Grade:

Fiction

Honorable Mention: “Tsunami,” by Lacey Hart, Green River High School, Green River

12th Grade:

Poetry

Honorable Mention: “These Halls,” by McKell Lyon, Green River High School, Green River

Nonfiction

Honorable Mention: “Warped Tour,” by Mylee Minard, Green River High School, Green River

Fiction

Honorable Mention: “Forget Me Not,” Sabrina Mora, Green River High School, Green River