St. Charles students win writing medals

Eighteen students from middle schools in the Tri-Cities received medals for original fiction, nonfiction and poetry awarded by the American Association of University Women Batavia-Geneva-St. Charles Branch at an April 9 ceremony and reception in St. Charles.

The winners were selected from more than 300 entries in the student writing contest, which the AAUW branch has held annually for the past 35 years.

Keynote speaker and poet Jackie K. White of National Lewis University helped honor the winners and encouraged the audience to express the sense of poetry that lies within us all.

Award recipients are

• Eighth-grade fiction: first prize, Skyler Lynn Wuestenfeld, Haines Middle School in St. Charles; second prize, Jackie Andrzejewski, Wredling Middle School in St. Charles; and third prize, Clarissa Barbosa, Wredling.

• Eighth-grade nonfiction: first prize, Daniel Goetsch, Wredling; second prize, Gabriella Pompilio, Wredling; and third prize, Andrew Zimmers, Wredling

• Eighth-grade poetry: first prize, Elizabeth Quintanar, Wredling; second prize, Lindsey Arnold, Geneva North Middle School; and third prize, Nicole Walley, Geneva North.

• Seventh-grade fiction: first prize, Emily Hancock, Geneva North; second prize, Morgan Steinys, Rotolo Middle School in Batavia; and third prize, Olivia Maass, Rotolo

• Seventh-grade nonfiction: first prize, Sonya Sheptunov, Haines; second prize, Madi Miller, Haines; and third prize, Claire Koberdanz, Haines.

• Seventh-grade poetry: first prize, Dana Feeney, Haines; second prize, Emma Puklin, Haines; and third prize, Addy O'Rourke, Haines.