Published: April 30, 2009 09:38 am      

Area students win top honors in story contest

Staff Report

Carbondale — Winners from Mt. Vernon, Texico and McLeansboro were honored last weekend at Cedarurst Center for the Arts.Area after receiving top honors in WSIU’s 15th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writer’s & Illustrators Contest.

Kindergartener Josie Woodrome of Texico won first place for “The Dog Who Had Superpowers.” Josie is the daughter of Kelli Woodrome.

Honorable mention went to fellow kindergartner, Kylee Gibson of Mt. Vernon for “Nemo.” She is the daughter of Michelle Gibson. Both Woodrome and Gibson are students in Mrs. Williams class at Field Elementary School, according to a press release.

First place for first grade went to Camryn Parker of McLeansboro. She is homeschooled by her mother, Jennifer Parker.

The winners were presented with a Reading Rainbow backpack stuffed with videos, books, a T-shirt and “other fun and educational prizes,” information states. They also received a certificate of achievement signed by actor and Reading Rainbow host, LeVar Burton.

The public can view the winning stories, along with other stories that received high marks through May 3. The names of the local honorees will be announced on WSIU TV and their stories will also be posted online at www.wsiu.org. The winners will also record their stories at WSIU Radio for broadcast later in the year.

WSIU received over 350 entries from children across the region and over 40,000 entries were submitted nationwide. Stories were judged based on originality, writing style, illustrations and overall concept. First place stories in WSIU's local contest have been forwarded to the national Reading Rainbow contest where they will compete for prizes such as a laptop computer, flat panel TV with DVD player, a digital camera, and an MP3 player.

Other winners in the contest are:

First Grade, Honorable Mention: Garrett Grau of Walsh for “My Dogs, Super Oscar and Bear.” Garrett's mother is Andrea Grau; his teacher is Missy Biethman at Evansville Attendance Center in Evansville, Ill.

Second Grade, 1st Place: Callie Oxford of Harrisburg for “My Daddy is Not Like Your Daddy." Callie's parents are Amy and Jamal Oxford. She is a student of Andrea Pesavento at West Side School in Harrisburg.

Second Grade, Honorable Mention: Miranda Fox of Effingham for “The Monkey and the Bananas.” Miranda's parents are Jennifer and Jason Fox; her teacher is Jill Carpenter at West Side Elementary School in Effingham.

Third Grade, 1st Place: Christopher Lamczyk of DuBois for “Jokes on a Rainy Day.” His parents are Martha Ann and Barney Lamczyk; his teacher is Mrs. Pedigo at Ashley Grade School in Ashley.

Third Grade, Honorable Mention: Julia Konopasek of Mount Erie for “Susie's Sugar Rush.” Julia's parents are Jason and Karen Gill. He is a student of Sarah Barnfield at Mount Erie Elementary School.