(upbeat music) (audience applauding) - Good evening.

Welcome to WHRO's "PBS KIDS Writers Contest" celebration.

(audience applauding) Tonight we are here to recognize our 2026 winners.

(audience applauding) We received entries from all over Virginia.

And the students being honored tonight, they are among the best.

Their winning stories survived three rounds of judging.

The first and the second rounds narrow the competition down to the top five in each grade level.

Those stories then advanced to the blue ribbon panel, which selected this year's winners.

We have some of our judges here with us tonight.

Judges, will you please stand or wave your hand to be recognized?

(audience applauding) Thank you so much for being here today.

WHRO, we're unique because we are owned by 21 school divisions that support the continuation of this contest.

Our school leaders and our governing board understands the importance of reading and creative writing.

And with that said, I would like to proudly introduce to you the President and CEO of WHRO Public Media, Mr.

Bert Schmidt.

(audience applauding) - Thank you, Martha.

I wanna welcome all of you here today, all of our amazing young writers and all of our families and our teachers.

This is... This is one of my favorite days of the year 'cause I get to read your stories.

Let me tell you, they were an absolute joy.

As I read through them, I found myself smiling, laughing, sometimes even stopping me to say, "Wow, I've never heard that before."

I met a butterfly who sings opera, and I could hear that music.

I read about a penguin who was determined to fly, and I was cheering for that little penguin the whole way.

I love the story where the animals worked together to fix a lighthouse.

I thought if only all of us worked together that well.

I also got to read some wonderful stories of friendship, like a unicorn and a deer who discovered they make a great team, and the golden retriever and the black lab who become doggy detectives, solving mysteries together.

Some of your stories took me on big adventures, and the aliens, dragons, wooly mammoths, and even the brave little blue blobfish.

When I read about four pigs running into a dragon, I had to stop and reread it 'cause that is a twist I did not see coming.

Other stories made me think in new ways.

A tooth fairy who didn't take the tooth, turtle eggs waiting for just the right moment, and a robot spending its time doing recycling.

A reminder that even robots can help take care of our world.

I especially love the story about a Shetland pony that was a special gift from her father.

A beautiful reminder of how love and imagination often go hand in hand.

Then, there was the Revolutionary War story told entirely in gingerbread style.

I've read a lot of history in my life, but never like that.

Only a young writer could come up and dream something so special.

Each of you created the world that did not exist until you wrote it down.

That's a real superpower.

Your stories made me feel curious, joyful, surprised, and inspired, sometimes all at once.

And the best part is, you are just getting started.

So to all of our young authors, keep writing, keep dreaming, keep asking what if because the world needs your ideas, your voices, your stories.

And to the parents, teachers, and families, thank you for encouraging imagination and creativity.

These young writers shine 'cause you helped them believe they could.

Congratulations to all of our winners.

I'm so proud of you and I can't wait to read what you write next.

Thanks.

(audience applauding) - Thank you so much, Bert, for all of your support.

Now, each year, we receive so many wonderful stories, and we believe that more of them should be recognized.

So, in addition to our first and second place winners, we have selected several stories as honorable mention.

Will you please join me as we recognize and congratulate the following honorable mention winners.

Starting with Mallory Cook.

Mallory Cook is a kindergartner, for the story, "Rainbow Snow," from Achilles Elementary School as a part of Gloucester County Schools.

Next is Ariana Zhang, a kindergartner, for the story, "Two Friends and a Cold World," from Stratford Preschool in Virginia Beach.

Next we have Lucy Havener, a first grader from Saint Patrick Catholic School in Norfolk, for the story, "The Best Egg Hunt Ever."

Next, we have Marlee Hurst, a first grader, for the story, "Animals Meet," from Churchland Elementary in Portsmouth.

Next, we have Erika Fan, a second grader, for the story, "We Belong Together," from Ideaventions Academy for Math and Science from Reston, Virginia.

Next, we have Annie Havener, a third grader, for the story, "Rosie the River Otter," from Saint Patrick Catholic School in Norfolk.

Next, we have Ava Harris, a third grader, for the story, "All About PBS KIDS," from Hillpoint Elementary in Suffolk.

Next, we have Jordan Wade, a fifth grader, for the story, "The Duck That Never Gave Up," from Magruder Elementary as a part of York County Schools.

Let's give all of our honorable mention winners a big hand.

(audience applauding) Thank you so much for writing such wonderful stories.

Now, each year, our producers like to do something fun with your winning stories.

Let's take a look.

(bright music) (audience applauding) (whistle ringing) (footsteps thumping) - Hey!

(audience applauding) (lively music) (record scratching) (frog croaking) (lively music) Hey!

(audience applauding) - I hope that you enjoyed that awesome animation.

And now please join me as we recognize and congratulate our first and second place winners.

(audience applauding) Starting with kindergarten.

Second place goes to Maisie Machelle.

(audience applauding) How are you doing, Maisie?

- Good.

- Wonderful.

Can you tell me, who did you bring here with you today to help you celebrate?

- My mom and dad.

- [Martha] Okay.

Now, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to imagine and play.

- You like to imagine and play?

That's good.

That's wonderful.

You like to be creative, don't you?

Wonderful.

Now, in your story, a reindeer from the North Pole, he fell through... He was playing in the snow, and then he fell through a portal, right?

So, where did that portal take him?

- To Unicorn Cove.

- To Unicorn Cove.

Okay.

Now, that's where he met his unicorn friend, and they began to play and play.

But then after a while... - They found the portal.

- They found another portal because that reindeer realized that he had to get back home in time for... - Christmas.

- In time for Christmas.

Well, Maisie, you wrote a wonderful story.

Here is your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

You can turn it around so they can all see.

Turn around so they can all see 'cause moms and dads might... Hold it with both hands.

(audience laughing) (audience applauding) Okay, thank you.

Okay, you can have a seat.

And first place goes to Vita Jewel Haney for the story, "Butterfly Opera."

(audience applauding) Vita is a homeschooler from Cape Charles.

How are you doing, Vita Jewel?

- Good.

- Wonderful.

Now, you can turn around so the audience can see you.

There you go.

Who did you bring with you to help you celebrate?

- My family and my brother and sister.

- [Martha] Okay, your family and your brother and sister.

Now, can you tell me what you like to do for fun?

- I like playing and imagining and just having fun with my family.

- That's a good thing.

That is wonderful.

Now, in your story, there was this butterfly who loved to sing.

Not only did she loved to sing, she began to sing opera.

She got so good that she got invited to sing where?

- The Butterfly Opera.

- At the Royal Butterfly Opera.

(audience applauding) And, you know, she did such a wonderful job.

The butterflies flapped their wings and gave her a... - Flying ovation.

- A flying ovation.

(audience laughing) Wonderful.

Vita Jewel, we enjoyed your story.

- Thank you.

- Here is your certificate, your ribbon, and your story.

- Thank you.

- Okay, turn around just in case anybody wants to take a picture.

(audience applauding) Wonderful.

Now we're going to recognize our first grade winners.

Second place goes to Taggart Sletten.

Taggart, what do you like to do for fun?

- Imagine and draw.

- Imagine and draw.

We have some creative friends here today.

Now, who did you bring with you to celebrate?

- My, my mom, my little brother, and my big sister.

- All right.

Okay, now, and in your story, this penguin really wanted to fly, right?

- Yeah - And, you know, he left home and, you know, maybe on a quest or whatever, that he ended up on a cliff.

But, you know, he was standing there, but then he received some help from some flying... - Ducks.

- From some flying ducks.

And they took him home, right?

- Yeah.

- He got a chance to see what it was like to fly.

And when he got home, he said that flying felt like... - Space.

- Flying felt like space.

That's why so here is... Thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story.

Here is your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

(audience applauding) Thank you so much.

And our first place goes to Kathryn Diefenderfer for the story, "The Lighthouse," from Larchmont Elementary School in Norfolk.

(audience applauding) Well, how are you doing, Kathryn?

- Good.

- We meet again.

So, tell me, who did you bring with you today to help you celebrate?

- My teacher and my mom and dad - All right.

Now, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to be creative and have fun.

- Be creative.

We have some creative friends here.

Wow, I love it.

I love it.

Now, in your story, there was a lighthouse.

It was a beautiful lighthouse at one time, but it started going down.

Because it was neglected, the lights went out.

So, the animals, they got together and fixed it back up.

And they did such a good job, they decided to live in it.

But, you know, they were really creative to get that light back.

How did they get the light to shine?

- They used fireflies.

- Fireflies, yes.

Well, the judges loved your story.

Thank you so much for writing.

Such a wonderful story.

Here is your certificate, your story, and your ribbon.

(audience applauding) And now we move to second grade.

Second place goes to Stella Epstein for the story, "The Four Pigs and the Magic PJs," from Larchmont Elementary School in Norfolk.

(audience applauding) Now, Stella, turn around so we can all see you.

Wonderful.

Who did you bring with you today?

- I brought my parents and my best friend.

- [Martha] Wonderful.

What do you like to do for fun?

- I like to learn.

- You like to learn?

Wow, that's amazing.

I do too.

Well, in your story, whoo, these four pigs, they go on a quest to find some magic PJs.

But, you know, they get stuck on this mysterious island.

But then they realized that on that island, they're gonna find the magic PJs But it's not that easy, is it?

Because the magic PJs is being guarded by... - A fire-breathing dragon.

- A fire-breathing dragon.

But you know what?

Those pigs outsmarted that dragon, and they got the PJs, didn't they?

- Mm-hmm.

- Wonderful.

Thank you so much for writing such a creative story.

So here is your ribbon, your certificate, and your story.

- Thank you, guys.

- Thank you.

(audience applauding) Now first place goes to Ida Leffler for the story, "Aliens Wear Onesies," from Larchmont Elementary School in Norfolk.

Hi, Ida, how are you?

- Good.

- Wonderful.

Who did you bring with you today?

- My mom, my dad, and my brother.

- [Martha] Your mom, your dad, and your brother.

Okay.

Now, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to practice ballet and play with my friends.

- Oh, okay.

That's good.

Now, let's talk about your story.

Hmm.

In your story, there's a little boy who's trying to convince everyone that aliens actually wear onesies.

He knows for a fact because he actually saw an alien steal onesies from who?

- His baby sister.

- His baby sister.

(audience laughing) So, he's giving you this tip.

If you want to see an alien wear onesies, pretend to what?

- Sleep.

- Pretend to go to sleep because that's when they will sneak in and steal the onesies.

(audience laughing) Thank you so much, Ida, for writing such a creative story.

Here's your story, your certificate, and your ribbon.

Thank you so much.

(audience applauding) - Thank you.

- And now for third grade.

Third grade.

Second place goes to Gray Niles for the story, "The Case of the Stolen Balls."

(audience applauding) Gray is a homeschooler from Norfolk.

Gray, who did you bring with you today?

- My mom, dad, and grandma.

- [Martha] Okay.

Now, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to read and swing on the swings.

- Okay.

Now, in your story, these two dogs became private investigators.

Undercover detectives.

Now, they went to solve their first case, but, you know, they had a really unusual boss.

He wasn't a dog, he was a... - Chicken.

- He was a chicken.

(audience laughing) Now, after much investigating, they pass the test and crack the case.

Thank you so much, Gray, for writing such a wonderful story.

And here is your ribbon, your certificate, and your story.

(audience applauding) And first place goes to Alex Kaloydis from North Landing Elementary School in Virginia Beach.

Come a little closer.

Alex, who did you bring here with you today to help you celebrate?

- My teacher, my grandma, and my dad.

- [Martha] Okay.

Now, what do you like to do for fun?

- Read.

- You like to read?

Okay, that's wonderful.

Now, whew, in your story, this mammoth was brought back to life by some scientists, and they used what to bring them back to life?

- Elephant embryo and a glass pipette.

- [Martha] Okay.

Their DNA, right?

- Mm-hmm.

- Okay.

Now, he always believed that he could swim.

And, you know, when his family got in trouble, they were floating away on an iceberg.

He jumped in to save them, and then he actually realized that he could... - Swim.

- He could swim.

Now, let's be clear.

Ms.

Martha is not encouraging anyone to jump in the water if you cannot swim.

(audience laughing) Okay?

- [Kid] I'll jump in the water if I can.

- Okay, make sure you know how to swim.

So we are gonna get that out of the way.

But you know what, Alex, that was a very creative story, and we thank you.

Let's turn around so we can all see you with your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

(audience applauding) And now we are going to fourth grade.

Now, fourth grade has two winners because both of these stories were wonderful.

So we are gonna start with Emily.

Emily Hatton for the story, "The Tooth Fairy Who Never Took My Tooth."

(audience laughing) And you're from Hillpoint Elementary School, aren't you?

- Yes.

- All right.

Now, let me ask you, who did you bring with you today?

- I brought my mom, my sister, and my dad.

- [Martha] Okay.

What do you like to do for fun?

- I like to write, draw, and play outside.

- Okay.

Now, in your story, a little girl wanted to find out what happened to the tooth fairy because she never came and got her tooth, right?

But to her surprise, she got a note back from the tooth fairy.

And what happened to that tooth fairy that caused... - She had lost the tooth, and that's why she couldn't come.

- That's why she couldn't come.

She lost her tooth as well.

So, thank you so much.

Here is your ribbon, and your story, and your certificate.

Thank you so much.

(audience applauding) Next, we have Kevin Rische for the story, "The Revolutionary War Gingerbread Style," from Magruder Elementary School as a part of York County Schools.

How are you doing?

- Good.

- So, who did you bring with you today?

- I brought my mom, my sister, and my dad.

- [Martha] Okay.

What do you like to do for fun?

- I like to play in the woods, build, an experiment.

- Okay.

Now, in your story, this is right in line with our 250-year anniversary, and you used the reenactment of the Revolutionary War in a very creative way because you used gingerbread men.

Right?

(audience laughing) And, in your story, they were about to arrest someone.

Who was that person?

- Thomas Gingerson.

- Thomas Gingerson.

(audience laughing) And then they fought the final battle where?

- In Yorktown.

- In Yorktown.

(audience laughing) Yes, it was very creative.

Thank you so much, Kevin, for writing such a creative story.

We can leave that there.

Here is your certificate.

(audience applauding) And first place goes to Sarah Hagerty.

(audience applauding) Hi, Sarah, how are you doing?

- Good.

- Wonderful.

Who did you bring here with you today?

- My mom, my dad, my grandma, and my aunt.

- Okay.

Now, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to swim and play sports.

- Okay.

In your story, there's a rabbit who gets in a lot of trouble because he's stealing carrots from Farmer Joe's farm.

And Farmer Joe is not very happy, so he builds a tall and a deep... - Fence.

- Fence so that rabbit can't get through.

But the farmer's dog feels sorry for him and helps him get back across, doesn't he?

Yes.

But you know what, that farmer, he's not happy at first, but then he realizes the rabbit can help me out.

He can help me out by doing what?

Being a... - Carrot taste tester.

- A carrot taste tester.

(audience laughing) That's right.

Well, congratulations on such a wonderful story.

Here you go.

Here's your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

(audience applauding) And now we have fifth grade.

Second place goes to Meg Broughton.

(audience applauding) Meg is from OakTree Academy in Chesapeake.

Meg, who did you bring with you to help you celebrate?

- My parents and my two sisters.

- [Martha] Okay.

Now, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to read, write, and draw.

- Okay.

Now, in your story, a little girl gets a pony from her dad.

And, you know, after she, you know, plays with her pony for a few months, she gets the opportunity to go to an... - Orphanage.

- An orphanage.

And she decides to give a little girl a special, special treat.

She gives her a ride on her pony, right?

This little girl is so excited, she gives Claire the biggest hug.

Then Claire realizes something.

She gave this little girl one of the world's greatest gift.

Gifts of... - Kindness.

- Gift of kindness.

Well, we love your story.

Thank you so very much for writing it.

Here's your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

(audience applauding) And first place goes to Izzy Drake for "The Blobfish," from Magruder Elementary as a part of York County Schools.

Now, Izzy, who did you bring with you today?

- I bring my dad and my brother.

- Your dad and your brother.

What do you like to do for fun?

- I like to bake and play with my friends.

- Okay.

Now, in your story, this blobfish, he was being teased because all the other blobfish, they were pink and he's blue.

So he goes away for a little while and he finds a shark, right?

And they become friends.

And he realizes that this shark is being teased as well.

He's being teased because he is... - A vegetarian.

- He's a vegetarian shark.

(audience laughing) So now the blobfish is protected, isn't he?

'Cause he has a shark for a friend.

Well, Izzy, thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story.

Here's your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

(audience applauding) Now, this contest allows students to be as creative as they would like by freely choosing their own topics.

However, students also have the ability to write, or the option to write an environmental story as part of the Batten Environmental Initiative.

At this time, will you please help me recognize and congratulate the following students for being our overall Batten Environmental winners?

We have, for kindergarten through first grade, Lucas Newmyer, a first grader, for the story, "Alligator Protects the Pool," from Norfolk Christian Beach Campus in Virginia Beach.

Now, Lucas, who did you bring with you today to help you?

- My mom, my dad, and my (indistinct).

- [Martha] Okay, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to skateboard and draw.

- Okay, wonderful.

Now, in your story, there's an alligator who wants to take a swim in the pool.

And once he put on his bathing suit and goes to the pool, he notices that the pool is full of what?

- Trash.

- Is full of trash.

So he gathers his friends together and they clean out that pool and he gets them to recycle and to throw away their trash, and he asks them to promise to keep the pool... - And the town clean.

- The pool and the town clean, that's right.

Lucas, thank you so very much for writing such a wonderful story.

Here is your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

(audience applauding) For our grades second through third, we have Siena Benyishay-Sapalio.

(audience applauding) How are you doing today?

- Good.

- Wonderful.

Who did you bring here with you today?

- My mom, my dad, and my grandma.

- [Martha] All right, now, what do you like to do for fun?

- I like to read, write, do crafts and invent things.

- Okay.

Now, in your story, there's a young lady walking on the beach and she finds some eggs, right?

- Yes.

- Now, she wanted to make sure that these eggs are not destroyed, so she takes the eggs to the what?

- Turtle rescue center.

- To the turtle rescue center.

And while the eggs are in this turtle rescue center, she got a chance to witness the eggs, the turtles hatch, right?

- Yes.

- And be released.

Siena, thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story.

Here is your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

(audience applauding) Our fourth through fifth grade is Sarah Young, a fourth grader from Hampton Rose Academy, for the story, "Amaya's Recycled Robot."

(audience applauding) Now, who did you bring with you today?

- I brought my mom.

- [Martha] Wonderful.

What do you like to do for fun?

- I like to draw.

- You like to draw?

Okay.

Now, in your story, this little girl, her teacher gives them a project for what?

- Earth Day.

- For Earth Day.

But she decides that she's gonna clean up the neighborhood, right?

- Yeah.

- Then she realizes that she has to separate the trash and the recycled products, right?

- [Sarah] Yes.

- [Martha] So she enters a what?

- Recycled robot contest.

- A recycled robot contest.

And you know what?

She wins.

(audience laughing) She wins.

And, you know, we enjoyed reading your story, so I wanna thank you for writing such a wonderful story.

Here's your ribbon, your story, and your certificate.

Thank you so very much.

(audience applauding) Let's give all of our first, second, honorable mention, and environmental winners a huge round of applause.

(audience applauding) I also want to thank our wonderful WHRO staff, our education team, our production team, and marketing departments who work tirelessly together to make this event possible.

And I wanna thank all of our volunteers.

Now, let's give all of you a hand.

Moms, dads, families, friends, teachers, school leaders, caregivers, give yourselves a hand.

(audience applauding) Because without you, we could not make this program possible.

So I wanna thank you so much for being here tonight.

Have a wonderful evening.

We hope that we will see you next year.

Take care and good night.

(upbeat music) (audience applauding)