Students from our community share their writing, artistic, and literacy talents as part of the District Young Authors Competition. Devin Hodgins, Centennial Librarian, and District Young Authors Coordinator, excitedly anticipates the Young Authors celebration each year, “Writing, illustrating, and putting together an entire book requires ingenuity, passion, and a whole lot of hard work. It encourages learners throughout our community to explore their interests and to share their ideas with creativity, imagination, and expressiveness. Every year, community members who help read and judge entries are astonished at the spectacular work of students at every level. The Young Authors program is honored to celebrate student success and the literary achievements of our community's young authors. Who knows? One of today's students might be a future bestseller!”
As part of NCSD’s Strategic Plan, we are committed to working together with parents and our community to support all students as they work to meet or exceed literacy expectations. "The Natrona County Young Authors Awards, sponsored by the Casper Literacy Council in partnership with NCSD librarian professionals and teachers, provides an exceptional opportunity for students to celebrate and showcase their literary talents!” shared Tanya Southerland, NCSD Director of Public Relations. “Congratulations to all student participants on this noteworthy accomplishment. Thank you for sharing your extraordinary talents with us as part of this annual celebration."
Congratulations, students!
Young Authors Awards
2022-2023
Sponsored by the Casper Literacy Council
Recognizing the outstanding achievements of
Authors ~ Schools ~ Teachers
Kindergarten
Fiction
First Place: Crew Alvstad ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Liz Harris/Esmeralda Cortes
Non-Fiction
First Place: Holly Meade ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Abigail Wilcox
Graphic Novel
First Place: Liv Wilkes ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Liz Harris/Esmeralda Cortes
1st Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Norah Barnes ~ Park Elementary ~ Julie Pierantoni
Honorable Mention: Zoe Waddell ~ Midwest School ~ Jolyn Hallgren
First Place: Lily Corimer ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Tracee Coleman
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: David Martinez ~ Natrona Virtual Learning ~ Mindy McGlade
Honorable Mention: Natalie Honken ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Valerie Honken
First Place: Griffin Grote ~Park Elementary ~ Michelle Stoneking
Poetry
First Place: Jack Tremel ~ Park Elementary ~ Julie Pierantoni
2nd Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Vincent Brown ~ Summit Elementary ~ Kimberly Harder
Honorable Mention: Rory Cattelier ~ Park Elementary ~ Chris Beamer
First Place: Jack Meade ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Mary James
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Deacon Estes ~ Park Elementary ~ Chris Beamer
Honorable Mention: Adalynn Salway ~ Midwest School ~ Jessica Weiss
First Place: Hadley Cassity ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Jennifer Cole
Poetry
First Place: Faith Mower ~ Park Elementary ~ Chris Beamer
Graphic Novel
First Place: Elsi Prater ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Jennifer Cole/ Gonzalo Martin
3rd Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Lucas Titus ~ St. Anthony’s ~ Jacy Short
Honorable Mention: Owen Gunderson ~ Manor Heights Elementary ~ Jennifer Wittrup
First Place: Mira Ballew ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Kelly Umbach/Nicolle Higuera
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Harper Clay ~ Paradise Valley Christian ~ Hunter Rez
Honorable Mention: Dakota Everding ~ Southridge Elementary ~ Kylie Rainwater
First Place: Reese Beck ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Claire Johnson
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Jachary Suhr ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Sandra Brown
First Place: Loralie Hicks ~ Bar Nunn Elementary ~ Claire Johnson
Graphic Novel
Honorable Mention: Lakota Clayson ~ Southridge Elementary ~ Kylie Rainwater
First Place: Harper Phillips ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Kelly Umbach
4th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Charis Limmer ~ Summit Elementary ~ Meagan Dye
Honorable Mention: Keylee Cox ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Brittany Holbrook
First Place: Andre Alania ~ Cottonwood Elementary ~ Sarah Lynn Edwards
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Sydney Gosman ~ Park Elementary ~ Darcy Croell
Honorable Mention: Harper Adams ~ Manor Heights Elementary ~ Belinda Howry
First Place: Spencer Riggs ~ St. Anthony’s ~ Amanda McCarthy
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Suri Dresang ~ Summit Elementary ~ Meagan Dye
First Place: Braxton Oedekoven ~ Evansville Elementary ~ Teri King
5th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Loralei Glenn ~ Evansville Elementary ~ Teri King
Honorable Mention: Grace Buckner ~ Cottonwood Elementary ~ Sarah Lynn Edwards
First Place: Riley Unterseher ~ Manor Heights Elementary ~ Cynthia Brachtenbach
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Claire Witcher ~ Manor Heights Elementary ~ Cynthia Brachtenbach
First Place: Brayden Anglund-Walters ~ Evansville Elementary ~ Teri King
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Levi Bolvin ~ Evansville Elementary ~ Teri King
First Place: Kinsey Rogers ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Rick Black
Graphic Novel
First Place: Angel Galicia ~ Park Elementary ~ Janet Blackwelder
6th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Sophie Harbison ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Laura Deal
Honorable Mention: London Robberson ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Rebecca Brachtenbach
First Place: Phineas Hansen ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Kari Harris
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Sophie Harbison ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Laura Deal
First Place: Rylee Tromble ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Rebecca Brachtenbach
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Sophie Harbison ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Laura Deal
First Place: Alyssa Christensen-Thoren ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Rebecca Brachtenbach
Graphic Novel
First Place: Liam Reaves ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Rebecca Brachtenbach
7th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Karrington Clay ~ Paradise Valley Christian ~ Joni Greer
Honorable Mention: Korbin Attwood ~ CY Middle School ~ Angela Hartl
First Place: Mickaela Knoepfle ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Stacy Mogen
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Nataleah Fernandez ~ CY Middle School ~ Angela Hartl
Honorable Mention: Emlyn Elrod ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Stacy Mogen
First Place: Cooper Chaney ~ CY Middle School ~ Lindsay Casey
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Chance Harmon ~ St. Anthony’s ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Cadence Toland ~ Cy Middle School ~ Angela Hartl
First Place: Sophia Winfrey ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Lacey Stephens
8th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Jazzmyn Demos ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Jackie Bradley
Honorable Mention: Bailee Hinton ~ CY Middle School ~ Jennifer Bauer
First Place: Greysen Cawiezell ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Laura Deal
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Jett Wik ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Laura Deal
First Place: Ryan Collier ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Jackie Bradley
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Briella Reichenbach ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Jackie Bradley
First Place: Logan Brown ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Laura Deal
9th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Hailey Cooper ~ Pathways Innovation Center ~ Gretchen Taylor
First Place: Jonah Mogen ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Eberle Buhler
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Peyton Neal ~ Pathways Innovation Center ~ Gretchen Taylor
Honorable Mention: Edee Lesco ~ Natrona County High School ~ Carl Meyers
First Place: Amya Shropshire ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Eberle Buhler
10th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Payton Brown ~ Natrona County High School ~ Jackie O’Briant
Non-Fiction
Honorable Mention: Kyah Williams ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn
Honorable Mention: Krysta Hubbard ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Carla Itzen
First Place: Madeline Elston ~ Natrona County High School ~ Carl Meyer
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Payton Brown ~ Natrona County High School ~ Jackie O’Briant
Honorable Mention: Zoe Johnson ~ Natrona County High School ~ Ciara Blain
First Place: Gabriella Downey ~ Pathways Innovation Center ~ Gretchen Taylor
11th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Amelia Wind ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
First Place: Racheal Drucker ~ Roosevelt High School ~ Melanie Kelly
Non-Fiction
First Place: Olivia Ellis ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Jamie Tipps
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Victoria Schnell ~ Pathways Innovation Center ~ Gretchen Taylor
First Place: Ava Paddison ~ Natrona County High School ~ Jessica Scherden
12th Grade
Fiction
Honorable Mention: Madison Bauers ~ Pathways Innovation Center ~ Gretchen Taylor
First Place: Tamara Cochran ~ Natrona County High School ~ Jackie O’Briant
Poetry
Honorable Mention: Samantha Wilson ~ Pathways Innovation Center ~ Gretchen Taylor
Honorable Mention: Kathryn McCarty ~ Natrona County High School ~ Jackie O’Briant
First Place Elora Umbach ~ Homeschool ~ Therese Hurt