The Tucson Festival of Books award ceremony for young authors and artists will be held on Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m. on the Main Stage on the University of Arizona Mall.
Altrusa International of Tucson Inc., a nonprofit volunteer organization whose activities focus on literacy, leadership development and fellowship, sponsored the Young Authors Competition. Young Author winners will receive $100 in gift certificates including: a $50 gift certificate to UofA Bookstore as well as a gift bag with a writing journal, pens and bookmarks provided by Altrusa, and a $50 gift certificate to Bookmans, provided by Bookmans.
Story competition winners
Lily Polk, second grade, home schooled
Sofie Sanchez, fourth grade, Tully Magnet School
Emma D’Amore, fifth grade, Harelson Elementary
Gillian Higgins, sixth grade, Cross Middle School
Ryan Martin Phoebe, seventh grade, Emily Gray Jr. High School
Emery Thoades, eighth grade, Emily Gray Jr. High School
Chaemin Lee, ninth grade, Basis Oro Valley
Elinore Belle Young, 10th grade, Desert View High School
Matthew Baldwin, 11th grade, Mountain View High School
Brett Lewis, 12th grade, Tanque Verde High School
Taylor Jones, 12th grade, home schooled
Poetry competition winners
Martin Duarte, second grade, White Elementary School
Lily Polk, second grade, home schooled
Harriet Nelson, third grade, Hermosa Montesorri School
Anthony Barcelo, fourth grade, Manzo Elementary School
Cordell Brantley, fifth grade, White Elementary School
Noemi Celani, seventh grade, Emily Gray Jr. High School
Nia Meredith, seventh grade, Emily Gray Jr. High School
Gracie Kendle, seventh grade, Emily Gray Jr. High School
Makayla Jones, eighth grade, Safford K-8 School
Alyssa Lemire, eighth grade, ASU Prep Digital School
Lindsay Gaines, 10th grade, Tanque Verde High School
Eve Jones, 10th grade, Tanque Verde High School
Richard Issiah Farias, 12th grade, Desert View High School
Marco Gutierrez, 12th grade, Desert View High School
Kiara Abre’u Mulatto, 12th grade, Desert View High School
Young Artists winnersThe Young Artists competition was sponsored by Friends of Western Art. Winners will each receive a $100 gift certificate to Sarnoff Artist Materials, a copy of the poster made from the art and a copy of the book with the art.
Grades K-2
Piper Bryant, second grade, Borton Magnet School
Adam Elitzer, first grade, Manzanita Elementary School
Ava Grace Erlacher, second grade, Canyon View Elementary
Caia Thompson, 1st grade, Borton Magnet School
Grades 3-5
Kaylee Blotkamp, fifth grade, Tanque Verde Elementary School
Chloe Chee, fourth grade, Basis Oro Valley Primary
Chanoknan Limsakul, fourth grade, home schooled
Alondra Portillo, fifth grade, Gallego Intermediate
Joseph Reed, third grade, Sam Hughes Elementary
Katherine Wang, fifth grade, Sunrise Drive Elementary
Grades 6-8
Ana Alfaro-Ellis, seventh grade, Satori
Josephine Burnside, eighth grade, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
Heidi Carter, seventh grade, Civano Community School
Isaiah Carter, sixth grade, Civano Community School
AnaLourdes Cuarezma, eighth grade, Dodge Middle School
Jaden Estrada, seventh grade, Gallego Intermediate
Luis Flores, seventh grade, Gallego Intermediate
Eli Jensen, eighth grade, Civano Community School
Emma Kokes, eighth grade, Emily Gray Junior High School
Anthony Son, eighth grade, St. Michael’s School
Grades 9-12
Chaemin Lee, ninth grade, Basis Oro Valley
Brett Lewis, 12th grade, Tanque Verde High School
Ranjit Nair, ninth grade, Basis Oro Valley
Sarah Schulzkump, 12th grade, Empire High School
Catherina Oda, 17, is a local teen playwright who has been composing plays since she was a child. She has written over 15 short plays, including "No Other Nemesis" which debuts at Live Theatre Workshop in Tucson this weekend.
