Young Authors to be Honored at UT Tyler

April 24, 2002

An awards ceremony for the 18th annual Young Authors' Contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at The University of Texas at Tyler, Dr. Nancy Horton, UT Tyler assistant professor of reading and contest coordinator, announced.

The ceremony will be held in Room 118 at the University Center.

In the contest sponsored by the Reading Division of UT Tyler's Department of Special Services, first- through fifth-graders at Tyler-area public and private schools were invited to submit entries in poetry, essay, narration and creative writing categories. UT Tyler undergraduate reading students judged the entries based on originality of ideas, organization and continuity of thought, writing mechanics and development of topic.

UT Tyler students will introduce winners and read winning entries during the ceremony. Each winner will receive $5, an anthology of winning entries and a certificate.

More than 530 young authors participated in the contest. Winners, and the titles of their entries, are:

First Grade - Kerbie Longley, St. Gregory Elementary School, "The Candy Kingdom''; Ashley Russell, Grace Community School, "My Sleepy Cat''; Susannah Williams, St. Gregory, "My Favorite Trip''; and James Ybarra, St. Gregory, "The Fish.''

Second Grade - Justin Dozier, Grace Community, "My Dog Lexie''; Alex Monreal, Grace Community, "The Rainbow''; Samantha Moon, St. Gregory, "The Smallest Puppy Ever''; and Bridget Nicole Reily, Rice Elementary School, "The Mush Mouse Eater.''

Second Grade Bilingual Students (Works in Spanish) - Zitlalitt Alvarez, T. J. Austin Elementary School, "El Pajarito Carlitos''; and Bryan Alan Garcia, T.J. Austin, "El Papalote.''

Third Grade - Seth Bailey, Grace Community, "Why I'm Proud…''; Jacob Becker, St. Gregory, "The Dinosaur''; Hannah Price, Andy Woods Elementary School, "When I Go To Bed''; and Bismah Sajid, Andy Woods, "Dreams to Come True.''

Fourth Grade - Claire Garvey, Grace Community, "Memories''; Tavis Harris, Grace Community, "America Needs God''; Sara Navarro, St. Gregory, "The Greatest Gift of All''; and Katie Stark, All Saints Episcopal School, "The Candy Man.''

Fifth Grade - Wes Holt, Holloway Middle School, Whitehouse, "The Bell''; Christina Norton, All Saints, "Prayer''; Laura Jeanne Pierce, St. Gregory, "House Guests''; and Meredith Smith, The Stepping Stone School, "America the Beautiful.''