(upbeat music) - PBS Kids Utah is hosting its annual Writers & Illustrators contest with the theme, Our Water, Our Future, and here to tell us more about it is Education Coordinator Melanie Pehrson-Noyce.

Hi Melanie, welcome back.

I can't believe it's already a year and it's time for this contest again.

- Neither can I.

(Mary laughs) it's, it flies by, it's crazy.

- It sure does, and a very timely theme you've chose, so kids can write anything around that theme.

- Yeah, Our Water, Our Future came out of a lot of brainstorming, thinking about the things that are relevant in our community today, but also things that can bring connection and creativity.

Just letting it flow because the water that is in our lives, the circulatory system of our state, so to speak, experiences that everybody has within Utah.

And we hope that we can draw upon that for creativity.

- And they might just come up with some solutions.

Yeah, you can only hope, okay.

And so what grades can apply?

- Yeah, kindergarten through sixth grade can apply starting now through May 1st and entries can be accepted both in Spanish and English.

- Okay, and is there a length that the story has to be?

- There are stipulations under the entry rules and guidelines that are on our website, that'll be listed at the end of the program.

- Okay, and then I know the judging part, 'cause I used to judge sometimes and it was really fun.

But the categories are different according to age.

So how many categories?

- Yep, so each grade gets three winners, first, second, and third place, and with those winners, we provide for them a gift basket generously donated by many of our partners throughout the community, as well as an experience of having their story travel throughout Utah in a traveling exhibit and having it featured on our website.

- Okay, that's like big time for these kids.

Well, it's a lot of fun, it's a great contest, and thanks so much for being here again.

- Yeah, thank you.

- And if you'd like to know more about how the children in your life can apply to the PBS Utah Writers & Illustrators contest, entries are now being accepted March 1st through May 1st, you can find all the details at pbsutah.org/writers, that's pbsutah.org/writers.

I'm Mary Dickson, thanks for watching "Contact."

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.