Valley students receive writing awards

By: Kenzie N

The Northeast Iowa Reading Council has recently announced the winners of the Spring 2010 Writing Contest. The Iowa Reading Association offers two challenges to student writers in the sate of Iowa. N.E.I.R.C challenges students to submit their writing at the local level. From there they can possibly move on to the state contest.  Students had to create either a poetry or writing piece and submit it to the council by the deadline of Jan. 8, 2010.  The writing pieces they submitted had to be their own original writing, and the young writers had to follow certain criteria when composing their pieces. Only two manuscripts are entered per class of students. The manuscripts had to be submitted in final published form, and had to follow state guidelines. Kindergarten students through grade three must follow a format of 500 words or less. Fourth grade students thorough eighth grade have a format of 750 words or less. Ninth through twelfth grades follow a format of 1000 words or less.

There were two poetry winners from Valley for the NEIRC contest this year: Blaize Frazier-1^st grade, and Ben Fettkether-4^th grade.  There were also two writing winners were also selected from Valley: Madison Monroe-6^th grade, and Valerie Butikofer-7^th grade. Madison Monroe also received the honor of being selected to compete at the state level. She placed second at state, which was a very impressive feat.

All winners will be honored at the April N.E.I.R.C. meeting at Johnson’s Reception Hall in Elkader.