A dozen kindergarten through 3rd graders from across Nebraska were honored for their writing in the 2022 Nebraska Public Media PBS KIDS Writers Contest.
Students from each grade received first through third place awards. The stories included tales of dreams coming true to being proud to be different and unique. The winning entries came from more than 140 that were submitted from schools across 30 Nebraska towns.
Kindergarten winner Jocelyn Morford took first place for her story 'How Mingo Changed The World'. It told the story of a bird who changed colors and was worried she wouldn't be accepted by her friends, only to find out her friends celebrated her differences.
Below is the complete list of winners:
Kindergarten
First – “How Mingo Changed the World” by Jocelyn Morford, Ashland
Second – “The Rainbow Crayons” by Zella Thornburg, Pickrell
Third – “Bobby Bee” by Phoebe Williams, Broken Bow
First Grade
First – “Ruby and the Big Race” by Tessa Clements, Kearney
Second – “A Leprechaun named Max” by Josephine Laughlin, Omaha
Third – “The Darkness” by Adeline Hartman, Dixon
Second Grade
First – “Hawk, Mouse, and Snake: a Story of Misunderstanding and Friendship” by Mina Thomas, Lincoln
Second – “Floating Furniture and the Flood” by Jillian Morford, Ashland
Third – “A Good Goalie” by Henry Gonnerman, Lincoln
Third Grade
First – “Lights, Camera, the Amazon!” by Emelia Howell, Bennington
Second – “The Arrogant Tree” by Mathias Hatch-Tocaimaza, Omaha
Third – “The Adventures of Minty and Carrie” by Aspen Nielsen, Cairo
First place winners in each grade level will receive an iPad plus a PBS KIDS prize package. Second and third place winners at each grade level will receive a PBS KIDS prize package.
To see animated versions of all four first-place winners, click here.