Thirty
students from schools throughout southwest Pennsylvania were honored
at Ligonier Valley Writers’ twentieth annual Student Poetry Awards
ceremony Saturday, April 30, at the Barnes & Noble in Greensburg.
This group of talented young writers beat out 600 other entries in
the poetry contest.
The
winners of the Paul Spencer Poetry Award for rhymed verse (sponsored
by Kathleen and Paul S. Brittain) are Juliet Tatone of Grandview
Elementary School in Derry (first prize for “A Bad Day”), Evan
Brown of Bellmar Middle School in Belle Vernon (second prize for
“Summer”), and Emma Krofchek of Yough Intermediate Middle School
(third prize for “Winter”).
Winners
of the Chestnut Ridge Literary Award for unrhymed verse (sponsored by
Lou and Barbara Steiner) are Riley Currie of the Valley School of
Ligonier (first prize for “Owlcat”), Madison Graham, also of the
Valley School (second prize for “My Girl”), and Daniel Shirley of
Saltsburg Elementary School (third prize for “Fire”).
Winners
of the Hayden Savinda Memorial Award for haiku (sponsored by Ron
Shafer) are Anna Salancy of Ligonier Valley Middle School (first
prize for “The Summer Sun”), Emma Krofcheck of Yough Intermediate
Middle School (second prize for “Dogs”), and Hannah Bates of
Ligonier Valley Middle School (third prize for “Ponds”).
Winners
of the Highview Farm Award for traditional verse (sponsored by Bruce
and Sally Shirey) are Brittany LaMacchia (first prize for “Life Out
on the Sea”), Carley Askin (second prize for “A Pirate Is Free”),
and Tiernie Singleton (third prize for “Put the Coins in the
Sack”). All three attend Bellmar Middle School.
Winners
of the Shirey Poetry Award for free verse (also sponsored by Bruce
and Sally Shirey) are Marie Vater of Carmalt Academy in Pittsburgh
(first prize for “Bing, Bang, Boom: The Fourth of July”), Mira
Shenouda of Jefferson Middle School in Pittsburgh (second prize for
“Little Rock 1”), and Miranda Filah of Bellmar Middle School
(third prize for “Photograph”).
Winners
of the Ogden Nash Award for light humorous verse (sponsored by Anita
Staub) are Mallory Truckenmiller of Bellmar Middle School (first
prize for “Man versus Bear”), Jenna Nold of Highlands Middle
School in Natrona Heights (second prize for “Bugs”), and Brittney
LaMacchia of Bellmar Middle School (third prize for “The Loudest
Girl in the World”).
Winners
of the Log House Award (sponsored by the Greensburg Writers’
Group in memory of Tina Thoburn) are Rachel Costantini of Keystone
Oaks High School in Pittsburgh (second prize for “Red Snow”) and
Johnnia Leonetti, also of Keystone Oaks (third prize for “Cross the
Distance”). No first prize was awarded in this category.
Winners
of the Wordcrafters Literary Award (sponsored by Gwen Loughner) are
Jessica Onstead of Somerset Area High School (second prize for “The
Winner Takes It All”) and Amanda Kowalczyk of Greensburg Salem High
School (third prize for “Little Ears”). No first prize was
awarded.
The
winners of the Marie Martin Memorial Award (sponsored by Phil and
Mary Lou Fleming) are Nicholas Rangos of Fox Chapel Area High School
(both first prize for “Sonnet 9” and third prize for “Sonnet
21”), and Emily Felton of Conemaugh Township High School in
Davidsville (second prize for “A Letter to My Lady”).
The
Walter McGough Memorial Award is for the best of the best. Winners
are Giovanni Cappella of Woodland Hills Academy in Turtle Creek for
“Present Day Nature,” Emily Hunter of Ligonier Valley Middle
School for “Boys & Girls,” and Lia Figurelli of the Valley
School of Ligonier for “Reflections.”
The
winning students read their poems aloud to an audience of proud
family members, teachers and others. They received certificates,
booklets containing all the winning poems, and cash prizes. Special
congratulations to Brittney LaMacchia and Emma Krofcheck, who won two
awards each.
