Local AAUW honors Tri-Cities student authors in 45th annual creative writing contest
The AAUW Batavia-Geneva-St. Charles branch continues its tradition of encouraging and honoring aspiring young writers through its creative writing contest.
This year, they celebrated the 45th anniversary of the contest. This long history is a testament to the dedication of local teachers, as well as of branch volunteers.
The winners were chosen earlier this month from more than 300 submissions from seventh- and eighth-graders in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles schools.
Young writers submitted creative works in three categories: fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
AAUW Branch member judges read every entry carefully, and chose the award winners, always a daunting task, as a team.
“In this technological age where communication via texting and tweeting sacrifices creativity for brevity, it is rewarding to see that many young people still take time to seek self-expression through writing,” said Maureen Brandon, branch president.
In addition to friends and family of the young authors and branch members, the AAUW local branch invited a local published author, Anitra Rowe Schulte, to share her origin story at the St. Charles Public Library event.
Rowe Schulte is the author of the picture book “Dancing with Daddy,” which won the Christopher Award and the Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award. She also wrote the picture book “Willow and Bunny,” which was published in October 2023. She has a project in the works with a planned 2025 release date. “Starlin,” illustrated by Katie Crumpton, is a chapter book series about an imaginative, theatrical, disabled girl, her family and school-day adventures.
Rowe Schulte is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. She worked as a journalist for The Kansas City Star and the Sun-Times News Group, as a staff writer for Chicago Public Schools, and as a publicist. She lives in Geneva with her husband and their three daughters.
The AAUW thanks all the teachers and parents for supporting their children’s interest in writing.
Seventh-grade fiction
• First place: Riley Cheesman, Rotolo Middle School in Batavia
• Second place: Audrey Hibbeler, Rotolo Middle School
• Third place: Evie Merriman, Rotolo Middle School
Seventh-grade poetry
• First place: Bella Casey, Thompson Middle School in St. Charles
• Second place: Sophia Djordjevic, Rotolo Middle School
• Third place: Julia Grawender, Thompson Middle School
Seventh-grade nonfiction
• First place: Katherine Ellis, Rotolo Middle School
• Second place: Cara Rice, Rotolo Middle School
• Third place: Tallulah Bell, Thompson Middle School
Eighth-grade fiction
• First place: Finley Dant, Rotolo Middle School
• Second place: Aarnavi Korapati, Rotolo Middle School
• Third place: Brooke Lyles, Geneva Middle School South
Eighth-grade poetry
• First place: Olivia Vancura, Thompson Middle School
• Second place: Zoe Lotesto, Thompson Middle School
• Third place: Nylah Rayne Novack, Rotolo Middle School
Eighth-grade nonfiction
• First place: Melanie Guzman, Thompson Middle School
• Second place: Leah Vrba, Rotolo Middle School
• Third place: Aria Bhate, Thompson Middle School
AAUW's mission is to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. For more information about the AAUW Branch and activities, visit sites.google.com/site/bgstcaauw/ or email membershipaauw@yahoo.com.