WTCI President and CEO Paul Grove announced Tuesday that Hannah Grace Hammontree had been selected as the national winner of the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest from among thousands of other submissions from Kindergarten students across the country.
Hannah’s book, “The Elephant Ballerina” was chosen by a prestigious judging panel including Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter Jewel; acclaimed children’s author and illustrator Mo Willems; and two-time Children’s Book Award author and illustrator, Jarrett Krosoczka. The judges voted for Hannah’s book from submissions from 63 participating stations across the country.
WTCI honored both Hammontree sisters, Hannah and her older sister Harmony, in May for winning first place locally in the Kindergarten and third grade categories.
“This annual event is one of the ways that PBS KIDS and our local stations help build children’s creativity and improve literacy skills in a fun and engaging way,” said Leslie Rotenberg, senior vice president, Children’s Media, PBS. National contest winners are awarded prizes, including tablets, e-readers and MP3 players for their outstanding stories.
The Hammontree children are among over 800 students who shared their stories in the Tennessee Valley area and they are WTCI Kids Club members. Melody and Allen Hammontree have enjoyed watching the spark of interest that the contest ignited in their daughters. They report that both girls now want to be authors and illustrators, with an increased interest in art and writing since the contest.
Paul Grove beamed on the set of WRCB’s Three Plus You as the two stations surprised Hannah and Chattanooga with the announcement of her win. “WTCI’s role in the community is to inspire others to excel and these young ladies are a perfect reflection of that goal. Seeing how the contest has sparked a flame of interest in these students is proof that we are taking PBS back to families and education.”
For more information about WTCI’s Kids Club programs, the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest and WTCI’s Kids Club party at Lake Winnepesaukah please visit www.wtcitv.org or call 423 702-7800.