AAUW announces writing contest winners
The Batavia-Geneva-St. Charles branch of the American Association of University Women celebrated its 30th annual Creative Writing Contest Award Program on Thursday, April 2, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles. The exciting evening began with a presentation by nonfiction writer Joni Holderman followed by Thomas Vandiver, a 2005 Creative Writing Contest winner, who spoke a few minutes on the impact receiving the award had on him.
Vandiver is a senior at Illinois Math and Science Academy. He said that winning the contest boosted his confidence in writing, a necessary skill for completing his college application to William and Mary, which has accepted him as a student for the coming year.
The evening continued with a brief reading of each winning entry and the presentation of 18 medals to first-, second- and third-place winners in the categories of fiction, nonfiction/essay and poetry from both seventh and eighth grades. The celebration concluded with refreshments and photos.
Students receiving awards for their entries included:
Seventh-grade fiction writing
• First place: McKinsey Koch, Wredling Middle School in St. Charles.
• Second place: Claire Davis, Wredling.
• Third place: Gianna Fazio, Wredling.
Seventh-grade nonfiction writing
• First place: Lauren Siegel, Haines Middle School in St. Charles.
• Second place: Danielle Maranion, Haines.
• Third place: Kendra Sheehan, Thompson Middle School in St. Charles.
Seventh-grade poetry
• First place: Megan Tmudo, Rotolo Middle School in Batavia.
• Second place: Drake Kienzle, Wredling.
• Third place: Lauren Towne, Wredling.
Eighth-grade fiction writing
• First place: Sara Sanders, Wredling.
• Second place: Kevin Raschke, Rotolo Middle School.
• Third place: Will Camacho, St. Peter School in Geneva.
Eighth-grade nonfiction writing
• First place: Tyler Mann, Wredling.
• Second place: Austin Stombres, Wredling.
• Third place: Joey Doody, Haines.
Eighth-grade poetry
• First place: Katie Kull, Wredling.
• Second place: Kaitlin Guerin, Wredling.
• Third place: Nick Borger, Haines.
In addition to these awards, honorable mentions were given to 18 students. Gift certificates donated by Colonial Ice Cream were sent to the following students for their honorable mention entries: Mitchell Dupuis, Delaney Carani and Nick Aicher, all for seventh-grade fiction writing; Ally Pottreton,
Teresa Dang, and Samantha Spengler, all for seventh-grade nonfiction writing; Stephanie Garvin, Katelin Keel, and Coraima Rodriquez, all for seventh-grade poetry; Anthony Giacobbe, Eric Anderson and Emily Fosen, all for eighth-grade fiction writing; Rebecca Murphy, Mary Wentworth and Eric Anthony, all for eighth-grade nonfiction writing; and Rachel Hathaway, Pratish Goel and Ashley Asuncion, all for eighth-grade poetry.
AAUW congratulates these students and their parents and teachers including Mrs. Rentas, Annie Leppin, Joan Knopp, Jennifer Jacobi, and Renee Boehm from Wredling Middle School; Sue Berry, Rhonda Yegge, Katie Colonna, Jenna Bruhn and Jason Accardi from Haines Middle School; Maureen Scalia from Thompson Middle School; Melinda Norfleet and Daven Carlson from Rotolo Middle School; and Jeanne VanLandeghem from St. Peter's Catholic School.
This contest is possible because of the donation of countless hours from many of the AAUW branch members and the generosity of local businesses. The branch is most thankful this year for the donation by CMC Electronics toward the purchase of gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates. The branch also thanks Colonial Ice Cream for donating gift certificates for the Honorable Mention winners for every one of the 30 years of this contest.