Wicomico's Young Authors Shine in Regional, State Writing Contests

Wicomico County’s young authors have received regional and state recognition for their writing talents in recent Young Authors writing contests.

Two of the Wicomico students whose writing entries earned first-place recognition in the Eastern Shore Reading Council Young Authors Contest have also been recognized in the SoMIRAC (State of Maryland International Reading Association Council Young Authors Contest for elementary, middle and high school students.

Alison Sahler, a third-grader at North Salisbury Elementary (Kristen Briggs, teacher), was awarded second place in the state contest for her short story, “The Visions.” Alexis Cooper, a ninth-grader at Mardela Middle and High (Renee Hesson, teacher), won second place for her poem, “What a Wonder.” These winners and their families have been invited to SoMIRAC’s Young Authors Reception at the Baltimore Hunt Valley Inn April 1. The students will receive a Young Authors Anthology including all of this year’s winning state writing entries, and will have the chance to meet the SoMIRAC Conference guest author and illustrator, Loris Lesynski.

Winners in this year’s Eastern Shore Reading Council Young Authors Contest have been invited to an Awards Night from 5-7 p.m. p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Berlin. Following refreshments, children’s book author Priscilla Cummings (“Chadwick the Crab” and other books) will speak, and awards will be presented to the Young Authors Contest winners.

Eastern Shore Reading Council’s Young Authors Contest (Grades 2-8)

Poetry, Grade 2: Jamie Herlande Saintphard, Beaver Run Elementary, “If I Could Touch the Sky,” 2nd; Harris Amir, Fruitland Primary, “X Box,” 3rd

Poetry, Grade 3: Colin Anderton, North Salisbury Elementary, “The Best Granddad,” 2nd

Poetry, Grade 4: Elizabeth Estee Elkins, Pemberton Elementary, “How to Be an Author,” 2nd

Poetry, Grade 5: Taylor Reid, Delmar Elementary, “Nature,” 2nd

Poetry, Grade 6: Kyle Stanton, Mardela Middle and High, “Just Believe,” 2nd

Poetry, Grade 7: Laura Fuller, Bennett Middle, “Color,” 3rd

Poetry, Grade 8: Leslie Hendrickson, Salisbury Middle, “Halloween into December,” 1st; Sandi Baker, Wicomico Middle, “My Brother,” 2nd

Short Story, Grade 3: Alison Sahler, North Salisbury Elementary, “The Visions,” 1st

Short Story, Grade 4: Wendy Pilcher, North Salisbury Elementary, “The Dragon Star,” 1st; Ayden Whitehead, Pemberton Elementary, “The Fish Who Got Lost,” 3rd

Short Story, Grade 5: Kaitlyn Patricia Hewitt, North Salisbury Elementary, 2nd; Jordan Kilgore, North Salisbury Elementary, “Pick of the Litter,” 3rd

Short Story, Grade 8: Leslie Hendrickson, Salisbury Middle, “Enock, The Feren,” and Hannah C. Weaver, Salisbury Middle, “Falling Leaves,” tie for 1st

In the Eastern Shore Reading Council’s High School Young Authors Contest:

Poetry, Grade 9: Alexis Cooper, Mardela Middle and High, “What a Wonder,” 1st; Colleen Hendrickson, James M. Bennett High, “Puppykat,” 3rd

Poetry, Grade 10: Jordan Evans, James M. Bennett High, “Leaving This Life,” 3rd

Poetry, Grade 11: Courtney Reeves, Mardela Middle and High, “What We Are Made of,” 1st

Short Story, Grade 9: Colleen Hendrickson, James M. Bennett High, “Friends of Greyson Squirrel,” 1st

Short Story, Grade 10: Jordan Evans, James M. Bennett High, “Knocking on Death’s Door,” 3rd; Tye VanHorn, Mardela Middle and High, “An Awakening,” 4th