Congratulations to the EIRC Creative Writing Contest winners

Pictured left to right: Emily Vaughan, Cheyenne Puetz, Brad Prier

BY GRETCHEN E. KRATOCHWILL, ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR

On Tuesday, March 12, Western Dubuque High School had three first-place students present their winning creative writing and poetry pieces in front of their families and fellow winners and teachers from the area.  This event was held in Independence and showcased the work of one overall winner, grades K-12, in two separate categories: creative writing and poetry.  Cheyenne Puetz (10) swept both categories, presenting her original descriptive narrative “Library Love” in the creative writing category and her original poem “No More Goodbyes” in the poetry portion of the contest.  Brad Prier (11) also presented in the creative writing category, reading his touching descriptive piece “Smoky Memory.”  Lastly, Emily Vaughan (11) presented her original poetic work “Self Taught,” a piece that was also featured in our Oct.10, 2012 issue of the Westerner.  All of the first-place winners’ pieces will move on to a contest at the state level.  

Although this event was held to honor the first-place winners of the contest, Western Dubuque also received several second- and third-place winners as well.  In the creative writing category at the sophomore level, Megan Kemp and Brooke Bockenstedt tied for second with their pieces “One Autumn Day” and “Tipple Smiles.”  Also in the creative writing category, Larissa Wilming (12) placed second with her piece “Melodic Death.”  Megan Kemp (10) also placed third at her level in the poetry contest with her poem “I Am Strong.”  Congratulations to all the winners!