WTVP Headlines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Four Young Writers and Illustrators Named Local First-Place Winners in WTVP’s “Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest"

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Peoria, IL — Four young writers and illustrators—students in kindergarten through the third grade in communities throughout Central Illinois—have been named local first-place winners in WTVP’s 15th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest.

The local winners—chosen from 207 entries from 36 Central Illinois communities—advanced to the national awards competition. In this special contest, children told their own stories—in their own words—and illustrated their work with original drawings.

Their entries, along with the stories of 8 children who earned 2nd-place and 3rd-place honors in this year’s contest, will be featured soon on WTVP’s web site—www.wtvp.org—in the special “Reading Rainbow Room.”

—2009 Local Winners—

 Local 1^st-Place Winners

• Kindergarten—Madeline Brod from Limestone Walters School in Bartonville for “Friendship and Caring”

• First Grade—Matthew Moorman from Silver Lining Academy in Peoria for “The Swinging Trotters”

• Second Grade—Jennalynn Cisna from Cisna Academy in Galva for “The Bald Eagle”

• Third Grade—Tessa Wiesbrock from Nineteen-Acre Academy in Dunlap for “The Horse Jumping Champion”

Local 2^nd-place and 3^rd-place winners

Kindergarten

• Meriah Nicole Fearon from Montessori School in Peoria for “A Story of Two Wishes—2nd Place

• Alyssa Bivens from Peoria Academy for “Purple Problem”—3rd Place