Smoky Hills Public Television announced the winners of its 14th Annual “Reading Rainbow” Young Writers and Illustrators Contest held in conjunction with the national contest conducted by the Emmy award-winning PBS children’s series “Reading Rainbow.”

The Smoky Hills Public Television winners include:

Kindergarten:
1st Place – Madeline Lee, Satanta
2nd Place – Creede Griffin, St. John
3rd Place – Ethan Metzler, Ellis

First Grade:
1st Place – Leah Hennes, Beloit
2nd Place – Sarah Seifert, Osborne
3rd Place – Wyatt Scheve, Hays

Second Grade:
1st Place – Hannah Chambray, Natoma
2nd Place – Kylee Ceccato, St. John
3rd Place – Chase Fisher, St. John

Third Grade:
1st Place – Miranda Long, Oberlin
2nd Place – Karsten Mohn, Salina
3rd Place – Teyvian Frye, Natoma

The Smoky Hills winners were recognized at surprise presentations at their schools.
Leona Breeden, director of educational services at the station, explained that the contest is open to children from Kindergarten through Third Grade with the children writing and illustrating their own stories.

More than 250 stories from schools and homes throughout the station’s coverage area were submitted as a part of this year’s contest, according to Breeden.

All entries were given a Certificate of Achievement, and First, Second and Third Place winners received a trophy, backpack, a “Reading Rainbow” DVD and a book.
Smoky Hills’ First Place winners will advance to the national competition.

Three national prizes will be awarded at each grade level: First Place – a laptop computer; Second Place – a flat panel television with a DVD player; and Third Place – a MP3 player. National winners also will receive three sets of “Reading Rainbow” DVDs and matching feature books – one for themselves, and one each for their school and public library. In addition, the national winning stories will be featured on www.pbskids.org, one of the most-visited websites for children.

“Each year ‘Reading Rainbow’ invites children to discover books, reading and the love of learning,” Breeden noted, “And Smoky Hills Public Television extends this mission by encouraging, challenging and rewarding children to create their own stories.”
“The contest has been tremendously successful,” Breeden continued, “It is such a great learning experience for children in kindergarten, first, second and third grades to be able to write and illustrate a book and be recognized for their hard work.”
Although prizes are offered, the real focus is on recognizing all creative effort, according to Breeden.

“This kind of project connects Smoky Hills Public Television with parents, teachers and children all across our viewing area,” Breeden added, “Smoky Hills loves doing this project and this is what the contest is meant to be – fun and a chance for children to be recognized for their creativity.”

Breeden facilitated the project along with personnel from Hays Friends of the Library, Salina Friends of the Library, and the Plainville Chapter of Gamma Alpha Sorority. Entries were judged on originality, creative expression and the integration of story and illustrations.

Stories were submitted from schools and homes in Norton, Ellis, Natoma, St. John, Satanta, Morland, Dodge City, Osborne, Lyons, Sublette, Hays, Sharon Springs, McPherson, Claflin, Beloit, Luray, Dighton, Hugoton, Macksville, Wilson, Salina, Grainfield, Moscow, Great Bend, Ellsworth, Glen Elder, Meade, Stafford, Garden City, Lindsborg, Oberlin, Russell, and Indianola, Nebraska.

For more information, contact Leona Breeden at 1-800-337-4788 or lbreeden@shptv.org

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