Letters about Literature 2001

LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2001
ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

The Indiana Center for the Book, in conjunction with the Weekly Reader Corporation and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, recently cosponsored the LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2001 essay contest.

The "Letters About Literature" project is based on research showing that students who read, write better and students who write, read more, according to national project director Cathy Gourley. This program focuses on the emotional side of reading. In this competition students are invited to write an essay, in the form of a letter to an author, about how the author's book had an impact on the child's life.

There are two competition levels: Level I for students in grades 4-7 and Level II for students in Grades 8-12. Across the nation almost 23,000 students entered this annual competition. In Indiana 1,275 essays, representing more that 75 schools, were submitted. From this pool of entries, at the state level, first, second, and third place winners were selected at each level. Cash prizes of $100.00, $75.00, and $50.00 were awarded to the winners in their respective categories.

Level I winners were:

First Place:
Jacqueline K. Klapak
Our Lady of Grace School
Highland, IN
Title: THE STORY OF BEETHOVEN by Helen Kaufman

Second Place:Catherine Whelchel
St. John The Baptist School
Fort Wayne, IN
Title:WHY DO THEY HATE ME?
By Laurel Holiday

Third Place:
Kandis Burton
Center Grove Middle School
Greenwood, IN
Title: NIGHT
By Elie Wiesel

Level II winners were:

First Place:Catherine Dea
High School North Manchester, IN
Title: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN By Mark Twain

Second Place:
Katrina Mahlerwein
Union County High School
Liberty, IN
Title: BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
By Katherine Patterson

Third Place:
Jill MacMillan
Burris Laboratory School
Muncie, IN
Title: FOOTPRINTS

Indiana judges for the Level I entries were Robyn Bowers, Carmel-Clay Public Library; Jackie Hill, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library; and Marilyn Logsdon, Acton Elementary School. Level II judges were Nancy Conner, Indiana Humanities Council; Cynthia Faunce, Shelbyville-Shelby County Public Library; and Melinda Stainbrook, IUPUI.