WTCI-PBS announced the local finalists of the 2013 PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. The first place winners in grades K-3 will advance to the national contest. Winners will be announced at the WTCI Annual Writers Contest Award Ceremony on Thursday, May 9. Hundreds of creative entries were received by local children and sixteen finalists were chosen in Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade and Third Grade.
Kindergarten Finalists:
Kaeden Arbuckle, Samarth Mahapatra, Peter Samuel Santos and Graylen Marie Scoggins
First Grade Finalists:
Kyla Curry, Ashlyn Rock, Amirtha Vijayarankan and David Wakim
Second Grade Finalists:
Garrett Allsen, Evelyn Carswell, Anne Giannamore and Emilia Liedke
Third Grade Finalists:
Callie Anderson, Trinity Henry, Autumn Larmee and Emmy Moyen
“It was inspiring to read through the entries and see the enthusiasm and talent the children in our community have for writing and storytelling,” said Debbie Thompson, Director of Education and Community Engagement, WTCI-PBS. “We are proud to offer the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest as a fun and engaging way for Tennessee Valley children to express their creativity while building key literacy skills.
Each year WTCI looks forward to celebrating the talented children in our community and we wish the winners advancing to the national contest the best of luck.”
The annual PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a national initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The Contest is made possible in part by financial support from Easy Student Publishing. It encourages children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity by submitting their own original stories and illustrations.
Local judges included Monty Wyne, Celeste Whitmire Williams, Michelle Hecker-Davis, Alei Burns, Chinyere Ubamadu, Lee Hope, Shula Yelliott, Stewart Payne and Mary Edwards, representing MayCreate, McKays Used Books and CD’s, Learning RX, the Chattanooga Public Library, Read20 and the Chattanooga Urban League.
The first place winners will advance to the national contest and a panel of esteemed judges, including Lisa Henson, Jeff Kinney and R.L. Stine will rank the top 12 finalists. National winners will be announced during the summer of 2013 and the winning stories will be featured on pbskids.org/writerscontest. National winners will receive prizes, including tablets, e-readers and MP3 players. Also, all participants will have the option to receive a print or digital version of Highlights magazine.
WTCI-PBS serves 35 counties and reaches households in a four-state region including Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. Enriching lives through quality programs, services and activities, WTCI educates, engages and inspires a lifetime of learning and exploration.
The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 9 from 6-7:30 p.m. at WTCI’s Production Studios at 7540 Bonnyshire Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416. The evening will feature refreshments, book signing with a local author, make-and-take activity, iPad games, trophies and award packages for the students. Please contact Alysia Najjar for information about this event at 702-7822 or anajjar@wtcitv.org.