Crescent-News.com - Creative youngsters earn recognition

FORT WAYNE -- Television station WFWA-DT PBS channel 39 of Fort Wayne has announced the regional winners of the 2008 Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, with three representing northwest Ohio.

Most of the young authors and artists eligible for this annual contest competed by grade level, K-3, at their local libraries or elementary schools. The entries were then judged at those locations, and the top three in each category at each library or school were sent along to PBS for judging at the regional level.

The first-place winners in each category have now been sent on to the National Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest where they will be judged along with entries from across America.

The national winners will be announced in June. Locally, the prize-winning entries are: kindergarten, second place, Kara Retcher, The Pink Elephant Named Kacee, Defiance Public Library; second grade, second place, Autumn Nuest, Liberty! Brumback Public Library, Van Wert; and third grade, tied for second place, Jonika Wells, I'm 100% Not Going to the Dentist, Ayersville Local Schools.

Students in Rhonda Huddle's third-grade reading class at Ayersville Elementary School participated in the contest. Kortni Martin, Leah Saxman and Wells all had their books represented at the regional level at PBS channel 39 in Fort Wayne.

On April 12, the winners and their families were treated to an exhibition and reception at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The winning entries are part of a special exhibit highlighting the stories and art that these young writers and illustrators have made. This exhibit will be posted at the Museum of Art through the June 20.

PBS channel 39 partnered with area libraries from across northeast Indiana as well as libraries in Ohio to conduct this year's contest. The station also received additional support from the Fort Wayne Museum of Art for this annual contest.

Winners at each of the above levels received a prize package from the television station.

Every child who participated in the 2008 contest also received a certificate of participation from their local library or school.