Two Central Elementary Students are among the winners of the KET 2025 Young Writers Contest. The annual contest encourages creative expression and literacy development by inviting students in grades Pre-K through high school to submit original graphic novels, illustrated stories, poetry and short stories.
CES 5th grader Libby Jones won 1st Place in the Elementary Division of the Graphic Novel category for her work "Jerald Blue and the Mystery Pizza Disaster." Avery Leonard, also a 5th grader at CES, was awarded 2nd Place in the same division for her work "Pierre Beats the Heat."
Earlier this year, CES Library Media Specialist Kim Phillips did a graphic novel unit with the 4th and 5th graders, learning all about them, and then they wrote their own graphic novel. "All of the students worked so hard on this project," Phillips said. " I am super proud of all of them. Libby and Avery went above and beyond working at home to complete their stories and I couldn’t be happier!"
On Friday, Mrs. Kim had all the fourth and fifth graders come together and read the email announcing the results, surprising everyone, including Libby and Avery!
(Libby Jones gets congratulated on winning 1st place)
(Avery Leonard learns she won 2nd place)
The top three winners, along with a list of finalists for each division, are listed below. Full versions of the winning entries will be available online at KET.org/WritersContest.
Illustrated Story – Early Elementary (Pre-K, K, 1)
First Place: Greyson Branham, Dorton Elementary, Jenkins
Second Place: Charlotte Dyal, Glenn Marshall Elementary, Richmond
Third Place: Remi Woosley, Glenn Marshall Elementary, Richmond
Illustrated Story – Elementary
First Place: Arlette Rodriguez, St. John School, Georgetown
Second Place: Madelyn Burgin, Eastern Elementary, Pleasureville
Third Place: Thomas Hayes, Homeschool, Pewee Valley
Illustrated Story – Elementary Intermediate
First Place: Vivian Ahlgrim, St. John School, Georgetown
Second Place: Katherine Hamm, Oak Hill Elementary, Somerset
Third Place: Bailey Schreiner, Lexington Christian Academy, Nicholasville
Illustrated Story – Middle School
First Place: Emma Ritter, Crosby Middle, Louisville
Second Place: Clara Schlafer, Western Middle School for the Arts, Louisville
Third Place: Heidi Freeman, Crosby Middle, Louisville
Illustrated Story – High School
First Place: Riley Mitchell, Danville High School, Danville
Graphic Novel – Elementary
First Place: Libby Jones, Central Elementary, Benton
Second Place: Avery Leonard, Central Elementary, Benton
Third Place: Evelyn Parrino, Bates Elementary School, Louisville
Fourth Place: Hadiyah Gauhar, Chenoweth Elementary, Louisville
Graphic Novel – Middle School
First Place: Lucie McCaffrey, SCAPA Bluegrass, Lexington
Second Place: Maddie Schreiner, Lexington Christian Academy, Nicholasville
Graphic Novel – High School
First Place: Alice Lugauer, Lafayette High School, Lexington
Second Place: Meredith Sither, Lafayette High School, Lexington
Short Story – Elementary
First Place: Theodore Thomas, Oak Grove Classical, Philpot
Second Place: Paisely Mitchell, Custer Elementary School, Custer
Third Place: Sophie Gillispie, Garrett Morgan Elementary School, Lexington
Short Story – Elementary Intermediate
First Place: Sarah-Nur Islam, Meadowthorpe, Lexington
Second Place: Noelle VanYperen, Goshen Elementary at Hillcrest, Goshen
Third Place: Dorothy Weinberger, Murray Middle, Murray
Short Story – Middle School
First Place: Nandini Sakineni, Winburn Middle School, Lexington
Second Place: Amelia White, Highland Middle, Louisville
Third Place: Arlo Pannell, Grayson County Middle School, Leitchfield
Short Story – High School
First Place: El Arnold, Danville High School, Danville
Second Place: Rachel Jones, Lafayette High School, Lexington
Third Place: Emma Phillips, Joyful Hearts Homeschool, Campbellsburg
Poetry – Elementary
First Place: Alisha Raheja, Greathouse / Shryock Elementary, Louisville
Second Place: Savannah Weinold, Clear Creek Elementary School, Shelbyville
Third Place: Liam Burgin, Eastern Elementary, Pleasureville
Poetry – Elementary Intermediate
First Place: Sarah El-Shaarawy, Lansdowne Elementary, Lexington
Second Place: Emma Parsons, Model Laboratory School, Richmond
Third Place: Emma Lingenfelter, Model Laboratory School, Richmond
Poetry – Middle School
First Place: Zachary Maurmeier, Hebron Middle School, Shepherdsville
Second Place: Tegan Donaghy, Crosby Middle School, Louisville
Third Place: Mike Williams, King Middle School, Harrodsburg
Poetry – High School
First Place: Destini Gruber, Marion County High School, Bradfordsville
Second Place: Lily Kouns, Wolf Creek Academy, Greenup
Third Place: Karynn Scruggs, Hopkins County Central High School, Providence
KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, providing trusted programming, lifelong learning opportunities and essential services to more than two million people each week. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org/Education, on Twitter @EducationKET and on Facebook @EducationKET.
KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, where learning comes to life for more than two million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on Twitter @KET and at facebook.com/KET.