More than 120 students, parents, and teachers attended the Young Authors' Reception, sponsored by the DCRC (Dallas County Reading Council). The evening reception was held at the Van Meter Community School Event Center on March 28th to honor first place winning student authors who entered their original stories and poetry in the annual DCRC creative writing contest. The DCRC judged more than 100 entries from the county area. After a light meal was served, the highlight of the evening was listening to the young authors read their story or poem. DCRC would like to express gratitude to local businesses for helping with the meal: Jordan Creek Hy-Vee – cookies and bottled water, Waukee Fareway – chips, Waukee Subway – six foot sub.
The 2011 story and poem winners are shown below. They are identified with the school district they attend.
DCRC Poetry Winners- Front left to right: (Co-1st grade winners Addison Thielman-Urbandale and Nora Henderson–Urbandale; 2nd grade, Audrey Messman-Waukee; 3rd grade, Alexis Carfrae–Waukee; 4th grade, Sarah Noga-Waukee. Back row: 5th grade, Alaina Taylor– ADM; 6th grade, Weston Garrett -Van Meter; 7th grade, Casey Jamison-Van Meter; 8th grade, Emma Skahill–Van Meter; 9th grade, Morgan Abbas– ADM.
DCRC Story Winners-Front left to right: K-Reagan Nicholl-Waukee; (Co-1st grade winners) Kenna Jackson-Dallas Center-Grimes and Sydney Hotchkiss-Urbandale; 2nd grade, Madison Nicholl-Waukee; 3rd grade, Anna Bauer–Waukee. Back row: 4th grade, Ben Fahrenkrug-Waukee; 5th grade, Emily Pottebaum– ADM; 6th grade, Sydney Bertman-ADM; 7th grade, Noah Bardwell-Van Meter; 8th grade, Emma Skahill–Van Meter; 9th grade, Madison Bertman– ADM; 11th grade, Lauren Abbas– ADM
First place winning stories and poems were sent to the Iowa Reading Council to be judged with other stories and poems entered across the state. The following students placed at state level:
Poetry: First Grader, Addison Theilman – first place; Second Grader, Audrey Messman – first place; Fifth Grader, Alaina Taylor - second place; Sixth Grader, Weston Garrett - first place; Eighth Grader, Emma Skahill – second place; Ninth Grader, Morgan Abbas – second place.
Story: Kindergartener, Reagan Nicholl – third place; Third Grader, Anna Bauer – third place; Sixth Grader, Sydney Bertman – second place; Eighth Grader, Emma Skahill – third place; Ninth Grader, Madison Bertman – first place.