The judging is finished, and we've named the winners of the WHRO Young Storytellers Contest. As with all events this year, our annual awards show looked a little different, but we are excited to honor these young writers.

We received approximately 100 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.

Watch the archived virtual awards show below.

2020 Winners

Kindergarten

First Place - Madison Holman “Rosie the Mermaid” Cape Charles Christian School, Cape Charles

Second Place - Savannah Gross “The Princess” Achilles Elementary, Hayes

First Grade

First Place - Grayson Zimmerman “The Magical Adventures of Grayson and Bubba” Carver Elementary, Newport News

Second Place -  Elizabeth Porter “Beth Goes to Camp” Greenbrier Primary, Chesapeake

Second Grade

First Place -  Siddhant Samtani “My Friend Sharko” Old Donation School, Virginia Beach

Second Place -  Bernadette Loeffert “Water Classroom Adventure” Saint Mary Star of the Sea, Hampton

Third Grade

First Place -  Tra Pham “Just with Juice to Make Magic” Larchmont Elementary School,Norfolk

Second Place -  Jayd Gladden “The Funny Pizza” Atlantic Shores Christian, Chesapeake 

Fourth Grade

First Place - Ariadne Stephens “The Goddess Group” Grafton Bethel Elementary School, Yorktown

Second Place - Elle Pero “Mystery in the Meadow” Old Donation School, Virginia Beach

Fifth Grade

First Place - Erin Magruder “The Wonders of Dance” Seaford Elementary, Yorktown

Second Place - Jack Vander Burg   “The New York Penguin” Larchmont Elementary, Norfolk