Six young Madison writers were recognized on Thursday as the winners of Madison Public Library and Forward Madison FC’s third annual WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest.
The grand prize winner was 17-year-old Grace Huang, a senior at Madison West High School, for “Speak English” which encapsulates the contest’s theme of Celebrate Small Heroes by telling the story of a small act of kindness having a big impact on Huang’s life. Huang, who said she faced many language and racial barriers in her childhood, wrote about one classmate who showed acceptance and friendship when other classmates didn’t
Runners-up in the WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest included Nora Irene Moran, a sixth-grader at Immaculate Heart of Mary School for “A Spark” and Ash Gartler (pen name A.G.), a freshman at Madison West High School, for “there are no stars here.”
The three winners were presented with Forward Madison FC gear and recognized at halftime of Forward Madison’s game on Thursday. The winners will also receive cash prizes thanks to the Madison Public Library Foundation. The grand prize winner will receive $500, and the runners up will receive $250 each.
Additionally, three other youth writers were recognized for having exceptional stories in their respective age groups and will receive $100 each from Madison Public Library Foundation.
The winners include
- Elementary School Age Group Finalist – Ellis Biller, 9, a fourth-grader at Gompers Elementary School, for “The Snake and the Hamster”
- Elementary School Age Group Finalist – Sofie Tregre, 10, for “Moon”
- Middle School Age Group Finalist – Lily Nguyen, 11, a sixth-grader at Core Knowledge Charter School, for “Saving Strangers”
