Students in Pella were challenged to write short stories and poems as part of the Three Rivers Reading Council Writing Challenge.
The local and state 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.
They presented their works Monday night at Pella Christian Grade School at a celebration of the state contest and local first place winners.
Iowa Reading Association State-Award Poetry Winners:
“Christmas Acrostic Poem” – 3rd Place in 1st Grade
Student – Luke Schreur
Teacher – Steph Vander Molen, PCGS
“I Ate Too Much on Christmas” – 3rd Place in 2nd Grade
Student – Delaney Ferrell
Teacher – Staci Strobel, Lincoln
“A Christmas Cinquain” – 3rd Place in 3rd Grade
Student – Elias Keegan
Teacher – Elly Van Zee, PCGS
“A Rain of Sadness” – 2nd Place in 4th Grade
STudent – Emersen Bishop
Teacher – Meredith Rumohr, Jefferson Intermediate
“The Pain and Joy of January” – 1st Place in 7th Grade
Students – Janae Vande Noord & Sydney Van Arendonk
Teacher – Elizabeth Oosterheert, PCGS
“Unchangeable” – 2nd Place in 8th Grade
Student – Macy Van Gorp
Teacher – LuAnn DeHaan, Pella Middle School
“The Tongue” – 3rd Place in 9th Grade
Student – Morgan Meinders
Teacher – Rachel Renaud, PCHS
“The Significance of the Insignificant” – 2nd Place in 10th Grade
Student – Emily Van Beek
Teacher – Marlo Van Peursem, PCHS
“Willow” – 2nd Place in 11th Grade
Student – Abby Ambroson
Teacher – Sheri Haveman – PCHS
Iowa Reading Association State-Award Short Story Winners:
“The Elephant, the Sloth and the Koala” – 1st Place in 2nd Grade
Student – Kyara Gomez
Teacher – Analu Reigstad – PCGS
“How the Elephant Got Its Trunk” – 2nd Place in 4th Grade
Student – Abigail Hietbrink
Teacher – Meredith Rumohr – Jefferson Intermediate
“Better From Home” – 1st Place in 5th Grade
Student – Addison Bandstra
Teacher – Kelly Nikkel – PCGS
“A Life Alone” – 2nd Place in 11th Grade
Student – Sierra White
Teacher – Rachel Renaud – PCHS
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Local 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