The judging is finished, and we've named the winners of the WHRO Young Storytellers Contest. This year, we received more than 450 entries from local students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Students wrote stories that were fact, fiction, poetry, or prose. Stories were judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling, and integration of illustrations, and one first-place and one second-place winner were chosen from each grade level.

Join us on Sunday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m. to watch the awards show. During this special event, each child is honored at a special reception and is recorded in the WHRO television studio reading their winning entry. Tune in on WHRO TV 15.1 to watch!


2017 Winners

Kindergarten

First Place - Sidney Wynne
“The Mysterious Mermaids”
Great Bridge Presbyterian, Chesapeake

Second Place - Scarlett Bustetter
“Elias And Cecilia”
Homeschooled at Bustetter Academy,
Virginia Beach


First Grade

First Place - Weyland Willis
“Weyland And Desert: A Story Of How We Met”
Occohannock Elementary, Exmore

Second Place - Hailey Wagner
“The Snow Tree And The Girl”
Butts Road Primary School, Chesapeake


Second Grade

First Place - Erin Smigiel
“The New School”
Ocean View Elementary, Norfolk

Second Place - Alexander Vaca
“The Soda Can And The Bag Of Chips”
Occohannock Elementary,Exmore


Third Grade

First Place - Mariana Gaten
“One Inch Tall”
Stonehouse Elementary,Williamsburg

Second Place - Logan Kodolitsch
“Who Did It?”
Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, Norfolk


Fourth Grade

First Place - Ava Cacckello
“A Fox Friend”
Deep Creek Elementary, Chesapeake

Second Place - Brooke Delorey
“If I Had A Horse”
Homeschooled at D. Heritage Christian Academy Moyock, NC


Fifth Grade

First Place - Savannah Meier
“The Mean Tree”
Camden Intermediate, Camden, NC

Second Place - Mia Casey 
“Daddy’s Homecoming”
Homeschooled at Bay View Academy, Norfolk