Arizona PBS Honors Winners of 2015 PBS KIDS Writing Contest

Eight, Arizona PBS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 PBS KIDS Writing Contest, a national-local competition for kindergarten through third grade that encourages students to enhance their reading skills through practical, hands-on learning. The contest, produced by PBS, WNED-TV-, in Buffalo/Toronto and Eight, Arizona PBS, invited children to utilize their writing skills, creativity and imaginations to write and illustrate a short story with the chance to win prizes and have their work published on the official Eight- Educational Outreach site.

First, second, and third place winners will be awarded prizes at a special ceremony in July at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism on the Downtown Phoenix campus at Arizona State University. The ceremony will double as a writing workshop for the aspiring writers, as they will have the opportunity to work with acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator, Nate Evans. Evans will engage the winners in an educational conversation about the writing process and provide them with invaluable tips for storytelling and how to draw striking illustrations.

“We had so many wonderful entries in this year’s contest,” said Kim Flack, Associate General Manager for Educational Outreach at Eight, Arizona PBS. “I want to congratulate every student who entered the contest because all of our participants produced wonderful work that deserves to be celebrated. Our writing contest is designed to help students further develop their reading and writing abilities and I think we accomplished that goal.”

First place winners will be entered into the national PBS KIDS Writing Contest and have the opportunity to win more prizes and higher honors. The winners of the national contest will have their work published on the official PBS KIDS website.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the board members of Valley of the Sun Association for the Education of Young Children for serving as volunteer judges.

The 2015 Arizona PBS KIDS Writing Contest winners are:

Kindergarten:
1st Place – Leonardo Valencia: Encanto Elementary, Phoenix, AZ– We're Going to Visit My Grandma
2nd Place – Surabhi Saroha: Chandler, AZ – Friendship Cookies
3rd Place – Abhiram Chennareddygari: Phoenix, AZ – How Many Eggs in the Nest?

First Grade:
1st Place – Preston Berg: Chandler, AZ – The Eater of Balls
2nd Place – Nika Adam: Desert Sun Academy, Scottsdale, AZ – Mousey Mouse
3rd Place – Leo Vingelli: Scottsdale, AZ– Connor's Awesome Arcade

Second Grade:
1st Place Surbhi Chandak: Fireside Elementary, Phoenix, AZ – The Adventures of Cheesy and Pipsqueak
2nd Place – Eleonora Demarco: Gilbert, AZ – Ogil and the Giant Robot
3rd Place – Liam Allan: Scottsdale, AZ – The Magical 500

Third Grade:
1st Place – Ranganathan Divyasri Kasthuri: Tempe, AZ – My First Victory
2nd Place – Alexander Huang: Chandler, AZ – The Adventures of Wither Willy
3rd Place – Vedika Dhingra: Bright Beginnings School, Chandler, AZ – Mary’s Adventure