Honoring Tomorrow’s Storytellers: First Draft Emerging Writers Competition Winners
In celebration of National Tell A Story Day, the Department of Communications and the Division of Literacy hosted their second annual short story contest. Fourth and fifth-grade students from across the district were invited to participate, and they responded with incredible enthusiasm. Their imaginative tales, filled with compelling characters, exciting plots, and vivid settings, showcased the creativity and talent of our young writers.
Each story was required to be 1,000 words or fewer and include the essential elements of narrative writing: plot, setting, character, and theme. Students were encouraged to think creatively and let their imaginations transport readers to new worlds, and they delivered beautifully.
The Communications and Literacy teams were thrilled by the exceptional quality of the submissions. Every story stood out in its unique way, making the judging process both exciting and challenging. Using a detailed rubric developed by the Division of Literacy, the judges carefully evaluated each entry.
Now, after much thoughtful consideration, we are proud to announce the winners of the First Draft: Emerging Writers Competition!
Before we share the results, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every student who submitted a story and to the teachers who supported and encouraged them along the way. To honor all participants, we’ve created a special e-book featuring every story submitted. We invite you to click here to read all the imaginative tales, including those of our winning writers.
Congratulations to our top storytellers and to every young author who dared to dream, create, and share their voice with us!
