AETN PBS Kids announces winners in writers contest

The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) has announced winners of the AETN PBS KIDS Writers Contest. AETN received more than 100 entries from students across Arkansas for this year’s contest, and all 12 winning stories can be viewed at aetn.org/writerscontest.

Arkansas winners include:    

•    Kindergarten – First place, Aiyah Miller of Little Rock for “The Girl Who Didn’t Brush Her Hair;” second place Yahya Sridjajamerta of Fayetteville for “The Police;” and third place, Charlotte Shelton of Lonoke for “Hiccup Saves the Day.”

•    First grade – First place, Jordan Murray of Conway for “Phil the Skunk;” second place, Ashley Carter of Little Rock for “The Magical Dress;” and third place, Raney Martensen of Little Rock for “A Cat Went Fishing.”

•    Second grade – First place, Aleksandra Bogan of Little Rock for “Magic Tent;” second place, Jessica Liao of Fayetteville for “Jessica Moving to Arkansas;” and third place, Neelie Kindt of Hot Springs for “The Beautiful Egg.”

•    Third grade – First place, Keynes Wright of Bentonville for “Boy in the Island;” second place, Allison Walker of Benton for “Where Is Bella?”; and third place, Jaidyn Moy of Bentonville for “Attack of Candy City.”

Entries were judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations. Winners will receive an AETN prize pack, and first place winners will be given the opportunity for Clifford the Big Red Dog to visit their school or to tour the AETN studios in Conway.

The PBS KIDS Writers Contest is a national initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The contest partners with PBS stations nationwide and empowers children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity and build literacy by writing and illustrating their own stories.

The PBS KIDS Writers Contest is produced by PBS and based on the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, a concept developed by WNED-TV, Buffalo.

The contest is designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through winners and share PBS KIDS’ commitment to opening up worlds of words for all young children across the state and the nation.

PBS KIDS, the No. 1 educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online, mobile and community-based programs.

Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including the PBS KIDS video player, now offering free streaming video accessible on computer and mobile-device-based browsers.