Winners Announced For The 2024 PBS Kids Writers Contest At WVPB

The winners of the 2024 PBS Kids Writers Contest at West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) have been announced. Eighteen stories written and illustrated by children in grades K-5 were chosen out of more than 175 entries from across the state.

Charleston, WV – (April 4, 2024) The winners of the 2024 PBS Kids Writers Contest at West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) have been announced. Eighteen stories written and illustrated by children in grades K-5 were chosen out of more than 175 entries from across the state.

“This was another successful year of creativity for our annual PBS Kids Writers Contest. The children of West Virginia are excellent writers capable of captivating stories. Thank you to the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute (WVDII) for sponsoring the event again this year,” said Maggie Holley, director of Education at WVPB.

“The Institute is pleased to sponsor this important event. We know that keeping kids safe and preventing them from using or misusing illicit and prescription drugs requires activities that keep youth engaged with positive and meaningful activities. Writing, much like sports, is one of of those protective factors,” said Dr. Susan Bissett, president of WVDII. 

“As a winner of a writing contest when I was 10 years old, I also have a special place in my heart for this event,” said Bissett.

Winners will be contacted by WVPB with information about our awards ceremony in May held at the Culture Center in Charleston.

All participants will receive a prize pack mailed to them by WVPB and PBS Kids.

The PBS Kids Writers Contest at WVPB is an annual competition that encourages West Virginia children in grades K-5 to explore the power of creativity by writing and illustrating their own stories.

For questions, please email WVPB Education at education@wvpublic.org.

See below for our 2024 winners:

2024 Writers Contest Winners

Kindergarten

1st place: The Magic by Hazel Hagler

2nd place: What Do You Do? by Ava Redden

3rd place: Ballet is Magical and I Love It by Angeline Vittek

1st Grade

1st place: The Boy and the Time Machine by Elias Cooper

2nd place: The Hungry Tree by Rowan Bailey

3rd place: Mittens and Cocoa by Helina Goodwin

2nd grade

1st place: The Magic Corgi by Avonlea Cooper

2nd place: Detective Casie and the Find of the Unicorn Fossil by Francesca Briar Shangler

3rd place: Rainbow Ducky by Kensi Thomas

3rd grade

1st place: Protest for Pluto by Hazel Williams

2nd place: Parents Just Don’t Understand by Elise Silber

3rd place: From Triplets to Twins by Lauren Blake Bledsoe

4th grade

1st place: One in a Million by Ivy Ware

2nd place: The Island’s Prophecy by Lucy Lacocque

3rd place: Pickle Pete by Lilly Ann Stubbs

5th grade

1st place: The Sheriff That Changed by Mia Hutchison

2nd place: From My Backyard to Mars by Harper Russell

3rd place: The Dancer’s Promise by Lillian Swearingen

West Virginia Public Broadcasting Announces PBS Kids Writers Contest Winners

West Virginia Public Broadcasting announced the winners of the 2023 PBS Kids Writers Contest at an awards ceremony Saturday, May 6 at the West Virginia Culture Center and State Museum.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting announced the winners of the 2023 PBS Kids Writers Contest at an awards ceremony Saturday, May 6 at the West Virginia Culture Center and State Museum. The event opened with interactive performances by Tony Music and Joey Stepp Magic. Additional entertainment was provided by WV authors Ashley Belote, author of Frankenslime and The Me Tree, and Diane Tarantini, author of The Brave Knight.

WVPB Education Director Maggie Holley encouraged all West Virginia students to stay creative.

“I am always in awe when I read the children’s stories,” Holley said. “There is so much talent here in West Virginia. I hope this event shows the kids that if they want to be an author or illustrator, that dream is within their grasp.”

Congratulations to our 2023 PBS Writers Contest Winners:

Kindergarten
First Place, Elias Cooper; Second Place, Grayson Walton; Third Place, Lena Martinez

1st Grade
First Place, Avonlea Cooper; Second Place, Franesca Shangler; Third Place, Arianna Thornhill

2nd Grade
First Place, Lilianna Quinn Shaw Lawson; Second Place, Elise Silber; Third Place, Aubree Miles

3rd Grade
First Place, Carly Osburn; Second Place, Isaiah Fitts; Third Place, Sophia Lacocque

4th Grade
First Place, Boone Schneeberger; Second Place, Rylee Erdlitz; Third Place, Lucille Rice

5th Grade
First Place, Colton Baisden; Second Place, Rhys Clum; Third Place, Lily Gard

(Photos: Boone Schneeberger (left) and Sophia Lacocque (right) were chosen to work with the WVPB production team to animate their stories.) 

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade were invited to submit stories with illustrations with the goal to encourage creativity and build literacy. Student teachers from Marshall University partnered with West Virginia Public Broadcasting to judge the entries.

Thank you to the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute for sponsoring the 2023 WVPB PBS Kids Writers Contest. They work across our state and nationwide to build awareness and promote medication safety for children.

Check out the 2023 stories here.

2023 WVPB PBS Kids Writers Contest Winners Announced

Detective Rabbits, Alien Wars, and Cheat Mountain Salamanders are center stage this week at West Virginia Public Broadcasting as we announce the winners of the 2023 WVPB PBS Kids Writers Contest.

Detective Rabbits, Alien Wars, and Cheat Mountain Salamanders are center stage this week at West Virginia Public Broadcasting as we announce the winners of the 2023 WVPB PBS Kids Writers Contest

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade were invited to submit stories with illustrations with the goal to encourage creativity and build literacy. Student teachers from Marshall University partnered with West Virginia Public Broadcasting to judge the entries.

Autumn Meadows, WVPB education specialist, was all smiles as she mailed out the certificates to every participant. “With over 100 submissions from all over the state, we are very proud of the writing that will be showcased,” commented Meadows. 

A celebration and ceremony for the winners will take place in May at the West Virginia Culture Center and State Museum. The event will include entertainment by West Virginia authors, Ashley Belote, author of Frankenslime and The Me Tree, and Diane Tarantini, author of The Brave Knight. Performances by Tony Music and Joey Stepp Magic will also be part of the celebration.

Thanks to the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute for sponsoring the 2023 WVPB PBS Kids Writers Contest. The West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute works in the state and nationwide to build awareness and promote medication safety for children.

2023 WVPB Writers Contest Winners

Kindergarten:

  • 1st: Elias Cooper  
  • 2nd: Grayson Walton         
  • 3rd: Lena Martinez

1st grade:     

  • 1st: Avonlea Cooper
  • 2nd: Franesca Shangler   
  • 3rd: Arianna Thornhill

2nd grade:    

  • 1st: Lilianna Quinn Shaw Lawson
  • 2nd: Elise Silber
  • 3rd: Aubree Miles

3rd grade:     

  • 1st: Carly Osburn    
  • 2nd: Isaiah Fitts       
  • 3rd: Sophia Lacocque

4th grade:     

  • 1st: Boone Schneeberger
  • 2nd: Rylee Erdlitz     
  • 3rd: Lucille Rice

5th grade:     

  • 1st: Colton Baisden
  • 2nd: Rhys Clum       
  • 3rd: Lily Gard
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