Shenker Writing Contest Winners Announced

The Literary Tea for the entrants of the Edna Ray and Benjamin Shenker Creative Writing Contest was held on Wednesday, May 18 at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.  During the past several months, judges read and evaluated the work of 264 Middletown students who submitted stories and poems using the theme of “My Neighborhood;” they described what the world is like outside their home, or what they wished it was like.

First and second graders talked about the importance of new friends on their street from many different countries and how they all played together.  Some third graders described the world outside their home as an imaginary nature wonderland.  The many entries from fourth graders included taking a shuttle from the moon to earth in the morning, in order to get to school.  Like many of the younger children, they spoke of the need to improve their neighborhood and work for a better world.  Fifth graders wrote about neighborhood problems, the need for a park and the terrible scourge of drugs.  The sixth, seventh and eighth graders also shared their real lives and imagined thoughts, their hopes for a better community, and that which is good already.  These Middletown children have the determination and skills to build the very best neighborhood, city, nation, and world.  

Contestants with their families and friends gathered in the Hubbard Room as Library Director Arthur Meyers announced the winners and officiated at the awards ceremony.  Hillary Sanders, a 2008 graduate from Middletown High School and an English major at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, spoke on "For the Fun of Writing."

Congratulations to all these creative young people.

Shenker Writing Contest Winners 2011

1st Grade

First Place                   Inchara Gaddi              Spencer

Second Place               Terrence Jackson        Macdonough

Third Place                  Eva Kottou                 Lawrence

Honorable Mention    Lauren Rucker             Macdonough

2nd Grade

First Place                   Alyssa Lecky              Bielefield

Second Place               Sophia Otis                 Moody

Third Place                  Malinka Albini            Roadside Academy

3rd Grade

First Place                   Rafaela Kottou            Lawrence

Second Place               Rachel Kornak            Roadside Academy

Third Place                  Sofia Pflaumer Moody

Honorable Mention    Lia Rosenbloom          Farm Hill School

4th Grade

First Place                   Angie Alban                Macdonough

First Place                   Irene Soteriou              Lawrence

Second Place               Sarah Canfield             Moody

Second Place               Caroline Kilian            Roadside Academy

Third Place                  Isabella Diakomanolis Moody

Third Place                  Mia Kriksciun             Macdonough

5th Grade

First Place                   Shaun Beckwith          Macdonough

Second Place               McKenna Johnson      Moody

Third Place                  Jessica Hart                 Farm Hill

Third Place                  Aparajita Kashyap     Annie Fisher

Honorable Mention    Melissa Costas           Moody

Honorable Mention    Sam Jarzabek              Moody

6th, 7th, and 8th Grade

First Place                   Victoria Dombrowik   Keigwin

Second Place               Victoria Kooh             Roadside Academy

Third Place                  Arianna Biales             Woodrow Wilson