Fiction: Grades 1-2
1 - Jacob Carver - Falling in a Lake
Fiction: Grades 3-4
1 - Addison Buck - Life on the Prairie
2 - Adain Smith - A Kind of Spooky Story
3 - Kinsley Scholl – D5 Member - The Magic Twins: Chapter 3
HM, Amulya Kotipalli – D2 Member - The Show and Tell
Fiction: Grades 5-6
1 - Amy Beth Wilson - The Plush Pig Plan
2 - Amy Beth Wilson - Llama Saves the Day
3 - Arielle Li - Castle of the Abused
HM - Garrett Li - Eternal Life
Fiction: Grades 7-8
1 - Allison Moddelmog - Lexie & Jackie
2 - Jentry A. Sears - Together Again
Fiction: Grades 9-12
1 - Morgan Sinsel - Hungry
2 - Bryson Brownlee - 7:14
3 - Penelope (Penny) Duran - The Waiting Room
HM - Isobel Li - Could’ve
HM - Morgan Sinsel - Gone
HM - Tyler Norsworthy - I’m Sorry
Nonfiction: Grades 3-4
1 - Adain Smith - Airport Sleep Over Day
2 - Avery Cao - The Skype playdate
3 - Albert Wang - Kiwi Bird
HM - Albert Wang - Exercising Life
Nonfiction: Grades 5-6
1 - Amy Beth Wilson - Rain Porch
2 - Amy Beth Wilson - Sparkling in the Sunshine
Nonfiction: Grades 7-8
1 - Susannah Wilson - Porch mornings
Nonfiction: Grades 9-12
1 - Morgan Sinsel - Sunrise
2 - Isobel Li - Some Xuzhou Fever Dream
3 - Juliet Nisly - A Flamboyant, Accidental Revolution
Poetry: Grades 1-2
1 - Ronin Rohrback - I Love You So Much
2 - Jacob Brunson - Green
Poetry: Grades 3-4
1 - Ferris Olson - A Day In My Bedroom
2 - Adain Smith - Life is Great
3 - Zach Chen - A Free Verse Poem
HM - Adiva Mittal - Dream, Oh Dream
HM - Adain Smith - NATURE
HM - Harper Lynne Falls - Corona Virus
Poetry: Grades 5-6
1 - Aarav Rajput - Save the Earth
2 - Garrett Li – D2 Member - Rain
3 - Garrett Li – D2 Member - Forest
HM - Amy Beth Wilson - Mystery
HM - Amy Beth Wilson - A.D.D.
HM - Kadi Bledsoe - Autumn
HM - Kadi Bledsoe - Spring
HM - Mira McInnes - don’t want you (a song)
Poetry: Grades 7-8
1 - Audrey Caleb - One Person
2 - Blaine McVey - Silence
3 - Brogan Meier - Dear Mother
HM - Sarah Ye - A Chaotic Tale
Poetry: Grades 9-12
1 - Niki Wood - Dead Breaths of Sobibor
2 - Bryson Brownlee - The Field
3 - Morgan Sinsel - Prejudice
HM - Isobel Li - you are the greens
HM - Penelope (Penny) Duran - March of the Resilience
HM - Chloe Pontious - For Dear Life
Bajaj Award Winner
Amy Beth Wilson
1 - Jacob Carver - Falling in a Lake
Fiction: Grades 3-4
1 - Addison Buck - Life on the Prairie
2 - Adain Smith - A Kind of Spooky Story
3 - Kinsley Scholl – D5 Member - The Magic Twins: Chapter 3
HM, Amulya Kotipalli – D2 Member - The Show and Tell
Fiction: Grades 5-6
1 - Amy Beth Wilson - The Plush Pig Plan
2 - Amy Beth Wilson - Llama Saves the Day
3 - Arielle Li - Castle of the Abused
HM - Garrett Li - Eternal Life
Fiction: Grades 7-8
1 - Allison Moddelmog - Lexie & Jackie
2 - Jentry A. Sears - Together Again
Fiction: Grades 9-12
1 - Morgan Sinsel - Hungry
2 - Bryson Brownlee - 7:14
3 - Penelope (Penny) Duran - The Waiting Room
HM - Isobel Li - Could’ve
HM - Morgan Sinsel - Gone
HM - Tyler Norsworthy - I’m Sorry
Nonfiction: Grades 3-4
1 - Adain Smith - Airport Sleep Over Day
2 - Avery Cao - The Skype playdate
3 - Albert Wang - Kiwi Bird
HM - Albert Wang - Exercising Life
Nonfiction: Grades 5-6
1 - Amy Beth Wilson - Rain Porch
2 - Amy Beth Wilson - Sparkling in the Sunshine
Nonfiction: Grades 7-8
1 - Susannah Wilson - Porch mornings
Nonfiction: Grades 9-12
1 - Morgan Sinsel - Sunrise
2 - Isobel Li - Some Xuzhou Fever Dream
3 - Juliet Nisly - A Flamboyant, Accidental Revolution
Poetry: Grades 1-2
1 - Ronin Rohrback - I Love You So Much
2 - Jacob Brunson - Green
Poetry: Grades 3-4
1 - Ferris Olson - A Day In My Bedroom
2 - Adain Smith - Life is Great
3 - Zach Chen - A Free Verse Poem
HM - Adiva Mittal - Dream, Oh Dream
HM - Adain Smith - NATURE
HM - Harper Lynne Falls - Corona Virus
Poetry: Grades 5-6
1 - Aarav Rajput - Save the Earth
2 - Garrett Li – D2 Member - Rain
3 - Garrett Li – D2 Member - Forest
HM - Amy Beth Wilson - Mystery
HM - Amy Beth Wilson - A.D.D.
HM - Kadi Bledsoe - Autumn
HM - Kadi Bledsoe - Spring
HM - Mira McInnes - don’t want you (a song)
Poetry: Grades 7-8
1 - Audrey Caleb - One Person
2 - Blaine McVey - Silence
3 - Brogan Meier - Dear Mother
HM - Sarah Ye - A Chaotic Tale
Poetry: Grades 9-12
1 - Niki Wood - Dead Breaths of Sobibor
2 - Bryson Brownlee - The Field
3 - Morgan Sinsel - Prejudice
HM - Isobel Li - you are the greens
HM - Penelope (Penny) Duran - March of the Resilience
HM - Chloe Pontious - For Dear Life
Bajaj Award Winner
Amy Beth Wilson
Thank you to our Judges
Ann McWhite was born and raised in Marysville, Kansas, and moved to Colorado in 1969. She finished college in Denver and then worked as a nurse at P/SL from 1975 to her retirement in 2014. She enjoys attending writing book club, paddle boarding, astronomy, gardening, reading, climbing in the mountains with her son Joe, baking, and just being with other retired friends keeping friendships open.
Judged Fiction Grades 1-2, and Non-Fiction Grades 1-2
Jolene Haas grew up in Southeast Kansas listening to the many stories of her extended family members. Some stories were true, but most were creatively told with twists and turns in the events, depending on who was telling the story. As a young girl, she began writing her own stories. She continues to love to read and to write middle grade and young adult fiction. Jolene has taught students in PreK-eighth grade for twenty-seven years. She has served Kansas Authors Club as the 2017 Youth Writing Contest Manager and as Publicity Chair. She is a member of Kansas Authors Club and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Judged Non-Fiction Grades 3-4
Curtis Becker teaches 8th Grade English at Holton Middle School. He Watched and Took Note, Becker’s collection of poetry and short fiction, was released in August of 2018. In addition to his teaching and writing, he operates Kellogg Press, which has published three poetry collections in 2019. Becker earned a BA in English from ESU and an MA in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a proud member of Kansas Authors Club and the Emporia Writers Group.
Judged Fiction Grades 3-4
Louise Brown has lived most of her life in Colorado, currently Arvada. She treasured her chance, years ago, to take adult education classes from Colorado poet Carolyn Campbell which launched her efforts in writing poetry. She has been a member of Columbine Poets of Colorado, a branch of National Federation of State Poetry Societies, for many years. Most recently she participates in Hard Times Writers at the Arvada Library. Louise has a 16-year-old granddaughter and a 13-year-old grandson, Jason. She is a retired preschool teacher whose favorite part of the job was reading to the children. She loves reading novels, poetry, and a variety of non-fiction. Jason continues to help his grandmother review the KAC youth contest entries. She values his insight, comments, and teen POV.
Note from Louise Brown: “Suggestions for all writers: Share your work with family, friends, and teachers; listen to their comments about what worked well. Be careful with adjectives; look them up to be sure the word has specific meaning you want, including colors. Writers write. Keep at it. Every entry shows potential, keep writing!”
Judged Fiction & Non-Fiction Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8
Jane Lewis was born and raised in Marysville, Kansas. She moved to Colorado and raised a family while working for one of the largest HMOs serving as a construction project manager and in-house art consultant. Writing has always been a constant in her life. Jane is currently focusing on writing memoir stories.
“It was a pleasure to serve as a judge again this year. Though I reside in Colorado, Kansas will always be my home. The writing submissions this year were phenomenal!”
Judged Fiction & Non-Fiction Grades 9-12
Kari Heide, M. Ed is a State Trainer for Kansas MTSS & Alignment, following six years as a second-grade teacher in both Lawrence and Eudora, Kansas. She lives in Eudora with her husband where they are raising three children, ages 19 (at KU), 17, and 15. In brief moments of spare time, Kari loves to garden, cook new recipes, and read books about adventurous people doing fantastic things. Most of all, she loves enriching the lives of children through exceptional instruction and genuine care.
Judged Poetry Grades 3-4
Marie A. Shepard is a graduate of the University of Utah with degrees in History and Education. She has taught in Alternative School in Salt Lake City. She volunteered at KRCL Listener's Community Radio in Salt Lake City and read books over the air. She also has worked with disable youth in Manhattan Kansas. At the present time she is raising two great grand niece and nephews.
Judged Poetry Grades 5-6
Seth Heide is a husband, father, and school administrator in Eudora, Kansas. He has two high school aged daughters and a son at the University of Kansas. He has most recently taught 2nd and 4th grades before becoming assistant principal at Eudora Elementary School in 2013. Previously, he taught middle school Spanish and Social Studies, as well as serving as children’s ministries director at his church prior to teaching in Eudora. Seth enjoys time with his family, running, and Cubs baseball.
Judged Poetry Grades 7-8
Lindsay Frank is a 5th grade teacher in Eudora, Kansas. She’s a proud Jayhawk who just finished her master’s in curriculum and instruction at the University of Kansas. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing the piano, going on walks, drinking coffee, playing sports, crafting, and spending time with her family and her dog. She’s excited to be a part of this process and read the excellent poetry submitted by students!
Judged Poetry Grades 9-12
Ann McWhite was born and raised in Marysville, Kansas, and moved to Colorado in 1969. She finished college in Denver and then worked as a nurse at P/SL from 1975 to her retirement in 2014. She enjoys attending writing book club, paddle boarding, astronomy, gardening, reading, climbing in the mountains with her son Joe, baking, and just being with other retired friends keeping friendships open.
Judged Fiction Grades 1-2, and Non-Fiction Grades 1-2
Jolene Haas grew up in Southeast Kansas listening to the many stories of her extended family members. Some stories were true, but most were creatively told with twists and turns in the events, depending on who was telling the story. As a young girl, she began writing her own stories. She continues to love to read and to write middle grade and young adult fiction. Jolene has taught students in PreK-eighth grade for twenty-seven years. She has served Kansas Authors Club as the 2017 Youth Writing Contest Manager and as Publicity Chair. She is a member of Kansas Authors Club and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Judged Non-Fiction Grades 3-4
Curtis Becker teaches 8th Grade English at Holton Middle School. He Watched and Took Note, Becker’s collection of poetry and short fiction, was released in August of 2018. In addition to his teaching and writing, he operates Kellogg Press, which has published three poetry collections in 2019. Becker earned a BA in English from ESU and an MA in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a proud member of Kansas Authors Club and the Emporia Writers Group.
Judged Fiction Grades 3-4
Louise Brown has lived most of her life in Colorado, currently Arvada. She treasured her chance, years ago, to take adult education classes from Colorado poet Carolyn Campbell which launched her efforts in writing poetry. She has been a member of Columbine Poets of Colorado, a branch of National Federation of State Poetry Societies, for many years. Most recently she participates in Hard Times Writers at the Arvada Library. Louise has a 16-year-old granddaughter and a 13-year-old grandson, Jason. She is a retired preschool teacher whose favorite part of the job was reading to the children. She loves reading novels, poetry, and a variety of non-fiction. Jason continues to help his grandmother review the KAC youth contest entries. She values his insight, comments, and teen POV.
Note from Louise Brown: “Suggestions for all writers: Share your work with family, friends, and teachers; listen to their comments about what worked well. Be careful with adjectives; look them up to be sure the word has specific meaning you want, including colors. Writers write. Keep at it. Every entry shows potential, keep writing!”
Judged Fiction & Non-Fiction Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8
Jane Lewis was born and raised in Marysville, Kansas. She moved to Colorado and raised a family while working for one of the largest HMOs serving as a construction project manager and in-house art consultant. Writing has always been a constant in her life. Jane is currently focusing on writing memoir stories.
“It was a pleasure to serve as a judge again this year. Though I reside in Colorado, Kansas will always be my home. The writing submissions this year were phenomenal!”
Judged Fiction & Non-Fiction Grades 9-12
Kari Heide, M. Ed is a State Trainer for Kansas MTSS & Alignment, following six years as a second-grade teacher in both Lawrence and Eudora, Kansas. She lives in Eudora with her husband where they are raising three children, ages 19 (at KU), 17, and 15. In brief moments of spare time, Kari loves to garden, cook new recipes, and read books about adventurous people doing fantastic things. Most of all, she loves enriching the lives of children through exceptional instruction and genuine care.
Judged Poetry Grades 3-4
Marie A. Shepard is a graduate of the University of Utah with degrees in History and Education. She has taught in Alternative School in Salt Lake City. She volunteered at KRCL Listener's Community Radio in Salt Lake City and read books over the air. She also has worked with disable youth in Manhattan Kansas. At the present time she is raising two great grand niece and nephews.
Judged Poetry Grades 5-6
Seth Heide is a husband, father, and school administrator in Eudora, Kansas. He has two high school aged daughters and a son at the University of Kansas. He has most recently taught 2nd and 4th grades before becoming assistant principal at Eudora Elementary School in 2013. Previously, he taught middle school Spanish and Social Studies, as well as serving as children’s ministries director at his church prior to teaching in Eudora. Seth enjoys time with his family, running, and Cubs baseball.
Judged Poetry Grades 7-8
Lindsay Frank is a 5th grade teacher in Eudora, Kansas. She’s a proud Jayhawk who just finished her master’s in curriculum and instruction at the University of Kansas. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing the piano, going on walks, drinking coffee, playing sports, crafting, and spending time with her family and her dog. She’s excited to be a part of this process and read the excellent poetry submitted by students!
Judged Poetry Grades 9-12
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