Students in Pella were challenged to write unique short stories and poems as part of the Three Rivers Reading Council Writing Challenge.

The winners have since been announced for this year’s contest, which includes students from Pella and Pella Christian grades kindergarten through 11th submitting works from class or their own personal, original pieces.

Hear some of the Jefferson Intermediate School award winners reading their written works on today’s Let’s Talk Pella, and find an archived program from Pella Christian Grade School Students under the Radio Audio Media Player.

Awards (Poetry)
1st Grade
First Place – “Christmas Acrostic Poem”
Student – Luke Schreur
Teacher – Steph Vander Molen

2nd Grade
First place – “I Ate Too Much on Christmas”
Student – Delaney Ferrell
Teacher – Staci Strobel

Second Place – “Christmas Time”
Student – Ava Cadwell
Teacher – Lauren Kahl

Third Place – “I Love Christmas”
Student – Ava Nikkel
Teacher – Lauren Kahl

3rd Grade
First Place – “A Christmas Cinquain”
Student – Elias Keegan
Teacher – Elly Van Zee

4th Grade
First Place – “A Rain of Sadness”
STudent – Emersen Bishop
Teacher – Meredith Rumohr

Second Place – “Drawing”
Student – Maisy Meinders
Teacher – Brenda Nugteren

Third Place – “America”
Student – Chloe Nikkel
Teacher – Brenda Nugteren

5th Grade
First Place – “The Beautiful Sky Outside My Window”
Student – Carey Van Wyk
Teacher – Melanie Meinders

Second Place – “Tomatoes Galore”
Student – Kirby Van Wyngarden
Teacher – Melanie Meinders

Third Place (tie) – “Fall Breeze”
Student – Hannah Adams
Teacher – Melanie Meinders

Third Place (tie) – “Friendship Rose”
Student – Megan Vander Molen
Teacher – Lisa Zylstra

6th Grade
First Place – “I Wish I Was a Unicorn”
Student – Alloree J. Else
Teacher – Cristy Roozeboom

Second Place – “Homeless Man”
Student – Kieran Van Voorst
Teacher – Cristy Roozeboom

Third Place – “What It’s All About”
Student – Zoie Winward
Teacher – Jill Jansen

7th Grade
First Place – “The Pain and Joy of January”
Students – Janae Vande Noord & Sydney Van Arendonk
Teacher – Elizabeth Oosterheert

Second Place – “February”
Students – Jasmine Fowler & Alayna Van Kooten
Teacher – Elizabeth Oosterheert

Third Place – “Unhappy Holidays”
Students – Toby Vander MOlen & Molly Zylstra
Teacher – Elizabeth Oosterheert

8th Grade
First Place – “Unchangeable”
Student – Macy Van Gorp
Teacher – LuAnn DeHaan

Second Place – “Hands”
Student – Tessa Breems
Teacher – Elizabeth Oosterheert

Third Place – “Then and Now”
Student – Kaden Van Kooten
Teacher – Elizabeth Oosterheert

9th Grade
First Place – “The Tongue”
Student – Morgan Meinders
Teacher – Rachel Renaud

10th Grade
First Place – “The Significance of the Insignificant”
Student – Emily Van Beek
Teacher – Marlo Van Peursem

11th Grade
First Place – “Willow”
Student – Abby Ambroson
Teacher – Sheri Haveman

Awards (Short Story)

1st Grade
First Place – “Emma and Pretty”
Student – Eliana Daining
Teacher – Steph Vander Molen

Second Place – “My Pet Elephant”
Student – Sam Seieroe
Teacher – Steph Vander Molen

Third Place – “A Dinosaur Named Roger”
Student – Chris Seieroe
Teacher – Steph Vander Molen

2nd Grade
First Place – “The Elephant, the Sloth and the Koala”
Student – Kyara Gomez
Teacher – Analu Reigstad

Second Place – “The Greatest Rivalry”
Student – Blake Gallaher
Teacher – Analu Reigstad

Third Place – “The Biggest Monster Ever”
Student – Trey Steinkamp
Teacher – Analu Reigstad
3rd Grade
First Place – “Kittens”
Student – Zoe Drabek
Teacher – Angie Wogen

4th Grade
First Place – “How the Elephant Got Its Trunk”
Student – Abigail Hietbrink
Teacher – Meredith Rumohr

Second Place – “The Train Disaster”
Student – Austin Schulte
Teacher – Meredith Rumohr

Third Place – “A Weekend at the Woods”
Student – Alexa Terpstra
Teacher – Brenda Nugteren

5th Grade
First Place – “Better From Home”
Student – Addison Bandstra
Teacher – Kelly Nikkel

Second Place – “Life as a Wood Elf”
Student – Dorla Drabek
Teacher – Rebecca Helland

Third Place – “Life as a Dog”
Student – Camden Parker
Teacher – Kelly Nikkel

6th Grade
First Place – “Perfect Paddleboarding Paradise”
Student – Erin Mathes
Teacher – Cristy Roozeboom

Second Place – “Deep Deep Dinger”
Student – Ben Van Gorp
Teacher – Cristy Roozeboom

Third Place – “Adventure in BookWorld”
Student – Sage Bishop
Teacher – Cristy Roozeboom
9th Grade
First Place – “Marijka’s Atlantis Adventure”
Student – Marijka Michmershuizen
Teacher – Nicole Van Wyk

11th Grade
First Place – “A Life Alone”
Student – Sierra White
Teacher – Rachel Renaud

Second Place – “Flight of the Rose”
Student – Zara Pippel
Teacher – Sheri Haveman

Third Place – “Green Thread”
Student – Brianna Jansen
Teacher – Rachel Renaud