Maine Humanities Council announces Letters About Literature winners

The Maine Humanities Council, the state’s partner with the national Letters About Literature competition, announced the 2014 winners June 20.

Katie Larson of Edgecomb won the Level I (grades 4-6) competition, Augusta Stockman of Camden won the state’s Level II (grades 7-8) competition, and Isabel Crane of Camden won in Level III (grades 9-10). There were also several semifinalists.

Letters About Literature encourages students to write to an author explaining how the author’s book changed their perspective and influenced their life. It is sponsored nationally by the Library of Congress, and locally by the David Royte Foundation. Teachers play an important role in this, utilizing this competition as an assignment, and working intensely with the students to refine their thoughts and improve their writing skills.

First place winners

Level 1: Katie Larson, Grade 6, Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb. "ish," by Peter Reynolds

Level 2: Augusta Stockman, Grade 8, Camden-Rockport Middle School, Camden. "Stargirl," by Jerry Spinelli

Level 3: Isabel Crane, Grade 11, Watershed School, Camden. "Little House in the Big Woods," by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Second place winners

Level 1: Sydney Sullivan, Center for Teaching and Learning, Edgecomb.

Level 2: Rebecca Cox, Camden-Rockport Middle School, Camden

Level 3: Nicole Gebhart, Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School, Mars Hill

Local semifinalists

 

Greta Bishop, Elaine Landry and Robyn Walker-Spencer of Camden-Rockport Middle School

 

Evie Bracher of Hope Elementary School