Blue Ridge PBS announces winners of PBS Kids Go! writing contest

(Roanoke, Va.)—Blue Ridge PBS has announced that seven of its young viewers are winners of the 2012 PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest. The station has directed a regional children’s writing and illustration contest for nearly 17 years. This year’s four first-place winners will now compete in the national level contest.

“Children are among our most important and valued audiences. Congratulations to this year’s writing contest winners,” said James Baum, Blue Ridge PBS President and CEO. “The 2012 PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest is just one example of the varied educational programs and services we offer. From ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘Dinosaur Train’ to a host of non-broadcast services, PBS children’s programs are the most honored and trusted, creating a safe haven where creativity flourishes.”

The annual PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest is designed to encourage, challenge and reward students from kindergarten through third grade to tell their own stories with their own illustrations. Entries are judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling ability and integration of text and illustrations.

First place winners are “Machines” by BJ Duncan from Pearisburg, Va., at the kindergarten level; “My 7^th Birthday” by Carina Aquilo from Salem, Va., at the first grade level; “The Time I Turned into a Mermaid at Swim Practice” by Tatum Robinson from Wytheville, Va., at the second grade level; and “Poetry by Chloe Hunt” by Chloe Hunt from Roanoke, Va., at the third grade level.

Second place winners are “My Dog Bronx” by Khalik Saunders from Pearisburg, Va., at the kindergarten level; “Jessie Plans for the Broncos” by Carson Creehan from Blacksburg, Va., at the first grade level; and “Frog” by Jordan Kalafut from Roanoke, Va., at the second grade level.

A distinguished panel of judges from the field of education included Amber Yopp, Youth Services Coordinator for Roanoke Public Libraries; Ashley Glaze, a kindergarten teacher in Roanoke County, Va.; and Linda Pharis, certified Montessori teacher and retired VP-Education Services at Blue Ridge PBS.

 For the sixth consecutive year,
local support for the 2012 PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is provided by

Thank you!

StudentPublishing.com is the official national sponsor of the 2012 PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. For more information about PBS KIDS GO! programming and activities, please visit http://pbskids.org/go/