The winners of the Three Rivers Reading Council Creative Writing Contest were honored at a Young Author’s Celebration. First place winners included third through eighth grade students from Pella and Pella Christian, and all have moved on to the Iowa Reading Association’s State Writing Contest. The students were able to read their winning entries to an audience made up of family, friends and teachers on Monday. Tricia Ballenger spoke with the group about the process she used to write her book, If You Go to Tulip Time. She encouraged the students to keep writing and to consider themselves as authors

PICTURE:
Back Row (L to R): Luke Schreur, Kyara Gómez Schreuder, Cassidy Oosterheert, Rachel Kacmarynski, Rachael Stratton

Front Row (L to R): Shaye Mulder, Ayla Johnson, Ava Nikkel, Alma Wick

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Three Rivers Reading Council Creative Writing Contest Poetry Contest Winners 2020-2021

Third Grade
First Place
Shaye Mulder
Poem Title: “The New Year”
Lincoln Elementary
Teacher: Connie Azinger

Second Place
Annabelle Winward
Poem Title: “Fast and Slow”
Madison Elementary
Teacher: Angie Wogen

Third Place
Harper Hunsinger
Poem Title: “Some Interesting Facts About Sam”
Lincoln Elementary
Teacher: Connie Azinger

Fourth Grade
First Place
Luke Schreur
Poem Title: “Luke”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Brenda Nugteren

Second Place
Julia Settles
Poem Title: “Julia”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Brenda Nugteren

Third Place
Benjamin Disselkoen
Poem Title: “Ben”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Brenda Nugteren

Fifth Grade
First Place
Kyara Gomez Schreuder
Poem Title: “Spring”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Rogelio Gomez

Second Place
Miriam Michmershuizen
Poem Title: “This Poem”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Kelly Nikkel

Third Place
Madelyn Verhoef
Poem Title: “Christmastime”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Crystal Schreur

Sixth Grade
First Place
Rachel Kacmarynski
Poem Title: “My Longing”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Pete Lyon

Eighth Grade
First Place
Cassidy Oosterheert
Poem Title: “Waiting for the Sunrise”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Elizabeth Oosterheert

Second Place
Aaron Gomez
Poem Title: “My Grandfather’s Highway”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Elizabeth Oosterheert

Third Place
Eliot Menninga
Poem Title: “Woody is the Worst”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Elizabeth Oosterheert

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Three Rivers Reading Council Creative Writing Contest Short Story Winners 2020-2021

Third Grade
First Place
Ayla Johnson
Story Title: “It’s Snowing”
Lincoln Elementary School
Teacher: Connie Azinger

Second Place
Annabelle Winward
Story Title: “The Bumblebee Wars”
Madison Elementary School
Teacher: Angie Wogen

Fourth Grade
First Place
Alma Wick
Story Title: “The Night I Met Santa”
Jefferson Intermediate School
Teacher: Julie Criscuolo

Second Place
Luke Schreur
Story Title: “The Best Snow Day Ever”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Brenda Nugteren

Third Place
Alaina Wiersma
Story Title: “The Adventures of the Woods”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Lisa Groenendyk

Fifth Grade
First Place
Ava Nikkel
Story Title: “My Snow Globe Adventure”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Kelly Nikkel

Second Place
Brynley Schulte and Sam Te Grootenhuis
Story Title: “Sugar City”
Jefferson Intermediate School
Teacher: Heidi Whaley

Third Place
Mattie Bandstra
Story Title: “The Magic Baseball Game”
Pella Christian Grade School
Teacher: Crystal Schreur

Sixth Grade
First Place
Kyla Barnes
Story Title: “The Nacho Table”
Jefferson Intermediate School
Teacher: Jill Jansen

Second Place
Adrian Scheckel
Story Title: “Walking on Water”
Jefferson Intermediate School
Teacher: Cristy Roozeboom

Third Place
Jayden Braafhart
Story Title: “The Second Shot”
Jefferson Intermediate School
Teacher: Cristy Roozeboom

Seventh Grade
First Place
Anna Wick
Story Title: “Fulfilled”
Pella Middle School
Teacher: Catie Brand

Second Place
Naomi Dunsbergen
Story Title: “The Hidden Voice”
Pella Middle School
Teacher: Catie Brand

Third Place
Jamison Castle
Story Title: “Maximum the Great”
Pella Middle School
Teacher: Donna Boots

Eighth Grade
First Place
Rachael Stratton
Story Title: “Assignment XX”
Pella Middle School
Teacher: Jodi Knight

Second Place
Anna German
Story Title: “Young Adventure”
Pella Middle School
Teacher: Haley Bjustrom