Salisbury, Md. – The Eastern Shore Literacy Association announced the finalist of its annual Young Authors’ Contest at it membership meeting tonight at The Salisbury School. Finalists are individuals who have finished in the top three in their respective category, poetry or short story, and grade level. Each finalist in grades 2-12 submitted an original writing artifact that was judged using a blind scoring method.

Finalist postcards, shown above, will now be sent to each finalist’s teacher, who will in return distributed the postcard to their respective finalist.

This year’s contest included entries from 16 schools, public, private, and homeschools. The Literacy Association personnel praised the amount of talented writers.

Finalists and their families, teachers, school administrators, and central officer personnel are now invited to take part in the Young Authors’ Awards Reception at Salisbury University in the Holloway Hall Auditorium, located on the first floor, on March 5, 2019 at 6:30 pm.

“We hope to continue the tradition we started last year of building anticipation in each of our finalist and get everyone here to Salisbury University to celebrate student writing. We feel last year’s turnout was topnotch, and we want to continue making this evening the Grammy’s of writing for our students,” Young Authors’ Contest co-chair Lizanne Wallace explained. “This is the night where we place student authors on a pedestal for their exemplary writing ability.”

The winning work of each student will be featured in the contest’s anthology and one will be given to each finalist. Electronic versions of the anthology will be available as well.

Individuals earning finalist status are listed alphabetically by last name in each grade and category. The order shown below does not reflect the placement where student authors finished in the contest.

Grade 2, Poetry – Trevor Langton, Glen Avenue Elementary; Bre’ara Thompson, Glen Avenue Elementary; Kayleigh Webster, Glen Avenue Elementary.

Grade 2, Short Story – Elias Baldridge, Ocean City Elementary; Kenley Hallett, Ocean City Elementary; Brynlee Waters, Ocean City Elementary.

Grade 3, Poetry – Cecilia Diehlmann, Ocean City Elementary; Ellie Phillips, Worcester Prep; Josiah Sessoms, Pocomoke Elementary.

Grade 3, Short Story – Harper Hertrich, Worcster Prep; Macaulley Jimmerson, North Salisbury Elementary; Ryan Shipp, Worcester Prep.

Grade 4, Poetry – Gabriella Chloe Damouni, Worcester Prep; Peyton Davis, North Salisbury Elementary; Henry Holt, Worcester Prep.

Grade 4, Short Story – Miles Cox, Northwestern Elementary; Peter Jin, North Salisbury Elementary; Carley Malone, North Salisbury Elementary.

Grade 5, Poetry – Aidan Gray, Deal Island Elementary; Kamryn Noble, Deal Island Elementary; Brody Webster, Deal Island Elementary.

Grade 5, Short Story – Jaren Hudson, Snow Hill Middle; Caitlin Shimko, Worcester Prep; Emily Whitelock, Deal Island Elementary.

Grade 6, Poetry – Megan Mitchell, Bennett Middle; Diva Shrestha, Salisbury Middle; Sydney Tingle, Worcester Prep.

Grade 6, Short Story – Ava Baer, Mardela Middle & High; Megan Mitchell, Bennett Middle; Trezure Trader, Salisbury Middle.

Grade 7, Poetry – Samantha Lambertson, Pocomoke Middle; Pim Noparat, Stephen Decatur Middle; Mariah Robertson, The Salisbury School.

Grade 7, Short Story – Aiden Clayton, Pocomoke Middle; Simran Jain, Stephen Decatur Middle; Zarriah S. Tobias, Stephen Decatur Middle.

Grade 8, Poetry – Leigha Early, The Salisbury School; Jack Greenwood, Stephen Decatur Middle; Ivorie Helmbright, Stephen Decatur Middle.

Grade 8, Short Story – Breanne Ferguson, Stephen Decatur Middle; Emily Leon, The Salisbury School; Isabella Scheeler, Pocomoke Middle.

Grade 9, Poetry – K. Cliff Collins, Pocomoke High; Morgan Johnson, The Salisbury School; Alexis Robertson, The Salisbury School.

Grade 9, Short Story – Rosy Gao, James M. Bennett High; Jenna Smith James M. Bennett High; Madeline Umsted, Mardela Middle & High.

Grade 10, Poetry – Briden Edney, James M. Bennett High; Hannah Perdue, Worcester Prep; Jonas Rush, Homeschooled.

Grade 10, Short Story – Lanie Gladding, Pocomoke High; Simon Lewis, James M. Bennett High; Sophia Smith, James M. Bennett High.

Grade 11, Poetry – Hanna Lehner, Stephen Decatur High; Sophia Peters, James M. Bennett High; Madison Synowiec, James M. Bennett High.

*Grade 11, Short Story – Daniel Cruz, James M. Bennett High; Ted Hirsch, James M. Bennett High.

Grade 12, Poetry – Gracie Boyce, Pocomoke High; Quinn Onley, Pocomoke High; Victoria Payne, Pocomoke High.

*Grade 12, Short Story – Zoe Michelle Bradshaw, Mardela Middle & High; Jake Rider, Stephen Decatur High.

*Indicates category only has two finalists.

About Eastern Shore Literacy Association

Eastern Shore Literacy Association is a nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the level of literacy in the lower three counties (Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester) on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  It promotes quality literacy instruction by: supporting the mission of the State of Maryland Literacy Association and International Literacy Association, disseminating best literacy practices to educators and parents, advocating for literacy issues through legislation and collaborating with educational institutions, professional organizations and businesses.

The group is active in the Lower Eastern Shore communities supporting literacy initiatives and individuals who have sparked a passion for reading. The group is made up primarily of K-12 educators (both current and retired) from public and private schools across Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore as well as individuals active in the higher education community