February 19, 2020
FLAIR awards area writers for poetry and short stories
Submitted Photo - F.L.A.I.R
KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – Area students from Harvey Elementary, J.R. Perez Elementary, Kaufer High School, Nanny Elementary, Ricardo Elementary, Ricardo Middle School, Santa Gertrudis School, and Sarita Elementary received top poetry and short story writing awards during the FLAIR Department’s Youth Poetry and Short Story Award Program Tuesday night at the Women’s Club of Kingsville. Each student read their poem or short story to the more than 100 teachers, families, and supporters gathered for the reception and program.
The contest entries were accepted from area schools and judged by four local literary enthusiasts in four categories: Category one included kindergarten to second-graders; category two included third- to fifth-graders; category three included sixth- to eighth-graders; and category four included high school students.
Poetry winners in category one included in third place second-grader Kate Eldridge from Ricardo Elementary who wrote Gymnastics; in second place second-grader Alesksia Gonzalez from Harvey Elementary who wrote Texas is my home; and first place second-grader William Lovelady from Harvey Elementary who wrote Flowers.
Poetry winners in category two included in third place fourth-grader Lila Smith from Nanny Elementary in Riviera who wrote Sally Sparkle; in second place fifth-grader Morgan Perkins from Ricardo who wrote Summer on the Frio River; and first place fifth-grader Adelyn Lopez from Ricardo Middle School who wrote My Family.
Poetry winners in category three included in third place eighth-grader Ian Mayberry from Riviera who wrote Dad; in second place seventh-grader Cerina Bustamante from Ricardo Middle School who wrote Cheerleading; and first place seventh-grader Witton Ley from Ricardo Middle School who wrote The Hole.
Short story winners in category one included, tied for second place, second-grader Mason Spicer from Harvey Elementary who wrote Having Autism and first-grader Ximena G. Alvarez from Sarita Elementary who wrote About My Pig; and in first place second-grader Zoe Mercado from Harvey Elementary who wrote The Magical Teddy Bear.
Short story winners in category two included in third place third-grader Daniel Ray Saavedra from Harvey Elementary who wrote The Tooth Fairy; in second place fourth-grader Frances Vera from Harvey Elementary who wrote The Day I Met My Friend; and in first place fifth-grader Araceli Balboa from Sarita Elementary School who wrote Fairy Tale Disaster.
Short story winners in category three included in third place seventh-grader Isabel Hubert from Kaufer High School who wrote Sweet Ice; in second place eighth-grader Ella Baumgardt from Ricardo Middle School who wrote The Reunion: Bad Memories; and in first place sixth-grader Adam Shipman from Santa Gertrudis School who wrote MineCon.
Special recognition for poetry was awarded to seventh-grader Emilia Perotto from Santa Gertrudis School for her poem Cuisine. In addition, member of the Bluebonnet Drama Club, McKenzie Williams Howard of Kingsville received first place for a poem called Boiling Love and a short story called The Story of Life.
All poetry and short story entries will be displayed on the Youth Writer’s Board in the Poetry Garden at the Kleberg Public Library every couple of months. Next year’s contest deadline will be in December 2020.
(Submitted Article)