Young Author
2025-2026 Winners
Kindergarten
Fiction
First Place: Finlee Bell ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Esmeralda Cortez
Non-Fiction
First Place: Matthew Williams ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Ashley Williams
Honorable Mention: Nathan Colvin ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Lezlie Oliver
1st Grade
Fiction
First Place: Hattie Chaput ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Val Honken
Honorable Mention: William Pieper ~ Cottonwood Elementary ~ Michelle Blake
Non-Fiction
First Place: Bristann Amadio ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Angela Ourth
Honorable Mention: Hannah Emery ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Lydia Bell & Tatiana Mendez
2nd Grade
Fiction
First Place: Bennett Mower ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Jennifer Cole & Katherin Arango
Honorable Mention: Andrew Fehringer ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Cheryl Gonzales
Honorable Mention: Piper Jolivet ~ Summit Elementary ~ Kathleen Cherry
Non-Fiction
First Place: Bridger Olsen ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Jennifer Cole & Katherin Arango
Honorable Mention: James Blomstrom ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Tiffany Catellier
3rd Grade
Fiction
First Place: Trinity Landess ~ Bar Nunn Elementary ~ Patty Arner
Honorable Mention: Emmy Pickle ~ Summit Elementary ~ Cassie Holt
Honorable Mention: Charlie Burton ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Kelly Umbach & Nicolle Higuera
Non-Fiction
First Place: Isabel Chakola ~ Summit Elementary ~ Ashley Ujvary
Honorable Mention: Emma Cassity ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Kelly Umbach & Nicolle Higuera
Honorable Mention: Hazel Frontiero ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Jacy Short
Poetry
First Place: Vivienne Ruiz ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Dawn Ford
4th Grade
Fiction
First Place:
Honorable Mention: Hayden Welsh ~ Summit Elementary ~ DeLaine Williamson
Honorable Mention: Hanna Cheesbrough ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Ben Mattila & Carlos Gonzalo
Non-Fiction
First Place: Hildy Wagner ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Amanda McCarthy
Honorable Mention: Bradley Nielsen ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West
Poetry
First Place: Mila Helling ~ Summit Elementary ~ DeLaine Williamson
5th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Macy Brown ~ Cottonwood Elementary ~ Michelle Blake
Honorable Mention: Hadley Cassity ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Becky Junge & Sandra Castro
Honorable Mention: Hailey Moens ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis
Non-Fiction
First Place: Adalynn Salway ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West
Poetry
First Place: Kane Samuelson ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis
Honorable Mention: Emma Carrico ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West
Graphic Novel
First Place: Zooey Gonsalves ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis
6th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Mila Rosenbaum ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark
Honorable Mention: Kensi Steed ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
Honorable Mention: Emery Moyd ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Jill Russell
Non-Fiction
First Place: Dylan Moody ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Norah Cannon ~ CY Middle School ~ Lindsay Casey
Honorable Mention: Addalee Lewis ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
Poetry
First Place: Finley Short ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Graphic Novel
First Place: Elijah Moran ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Avery Thomson ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
7th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Sophia Davis ~ Casper Christian School ~ Jody Scott
Honorable Mention: Willow Huffman ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark
Honorable Mention: Kellen LeClercq ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Non-Fiction
First Place: Landen McMillan ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Caleigh Dodson ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Scarlett Alleman
Poetry
First Place: Anna Blomstrom ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Caleigh Dodson ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Scarlett Alleman
Honorable Mention: Naomi Vreeman ~ Casper Christian School ~ Jody Scott
Graphic Novel
First Place: Kaynan Bitzan-Frias ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Shanel Wetzel
Honorable Mention: Naphtali Ribitzki ~ Casper Christian School ~ Jody Scott
Honorable Mention: Alden Frontiero ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
8th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Ryleigh Riggs ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Madison Nelson ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Emily Crane
Honorable Mention: Brooklyn Leonhardt ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
Non-Fiction
First Place: John Niglio ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Poetry
First Place: Mateo Skaf ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Mirrary Hodgins ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Rikki Clark
Graphic Novel
First Place: Lillian Martin ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Uriah Rosenbaum ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark
9th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Tayven Nab ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Amelia Engelman ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Jason Murdock
Non-Fiction
First Place: Kathryn Thorne ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
Poetry
First Place: Isabell Stillabower ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Graphic Novel
First Place: Raela Kountz ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
10th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Desiree Duran ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Camden Ankeney ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn
Honorable Mention: Elenna Scoleri ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Matinovich
Non-Fiction
First Place: Max Dobson ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn
Poetry
First Place: Taelynn Salway ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn
Honorable Mention: Teaghan Maher ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Keyelyn Merdink ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Eberle Buhler
Graphic Novel
First Place: Maggie McConigly ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
11th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Natalie Owen ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
Non-Fiction
First Place: Ryan Collier ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
12th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Kylie Wall ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Lily Bates ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
Non-Fiction
First Place: Sophia Jones ~ Natrona County High School ~ Ellie Bolender
Poetry
First Place: Kylie Wall ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Graphic Novel
First Place: Alayna Mellin ~ Natrona County High School ~ Ellie Bolender
Fiction
First Place: Finlee Bell ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Esmeralda Cortez
Non-Fiction
First Place: Matthew Williams ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Ashley Williams
Honorable Mention: Nathan Colvin ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Lezlie Oliver
1st Grade
Fiction
First Place: Hattie Chaput ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Val Honken
Honorable Mention: William Pieper ~ Cottonwood Elementary ~ Michelle Blake
Non-Fiction
First Place: Bristann Amadio ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Angela Ourth
Honorable Mention: Hannah Emery ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Lydia Bell & Tatiana Mendez
2nd Grade
Fiction
First Place: Bennett Mower ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Jennifer Cole & Katherin Arango
Honorable Mention: Andrew Fehringer ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Cheryl Gonzales
Honorable Mention: Piper Jolivet ~ Summit Elementary ~ Kathleen Cherry
Non-Fiction
First Place: Bridger Olsen ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Jennifer Cole & Katherin Arango
Honorable Mention: James Blomstrom ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Tiffany Catellier
3rd Grade
Fiction
First Place: Trinity Landess ~ Bar Nunn Elementary ~ Patty Arner
Honorable Mention: Emmy Pickle ~ Summit Elementary ~ Cassie Holt
Honorable Mention: Charlie Burton ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Kelly Umbach & Nicolle Higuera
Non-Fiction
First Place: Isabel Chakola ~ Summit Elementary ~ Ashley Ujvary
Honorable Mention: Emma Cassity ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Kelly Umbach & Nicolle Higuera
Honorable Mention: Hazel Frontiero ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Jacy Short
Poetry
First Place: Vivienne Ruiz ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Dawn Ford
4th Grade
Fiction
First Place:
Honorable Mention: Hayden Welsh ~ Summit Elementary ~ DeLaine Williamson
Honorable Mention: Hanna Cheesbrough ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Ben Mattila & Carlos Gonzalo
Non-Fiction
First Place: Hildy Wagner ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Amanda McCarthy
Honorable Mention: Bradley Nielsen ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West
Poetry
First Place: Mila Helling ~ Summit Elementary ~ DeLaine Williamson
5th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Macy Brown ~ Cottonwood Elementary ~ Michelle Blake
Honorable Mention: Hadley Cassity ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Becky Junge & Sandra Castro
Honorable Mention: Hailey Moens ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis
Non-Fiction
First Place: Adalynn Salway ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West
Poetry
First Place: Kane Samuelson ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis
Honorable Mention: Emma Carrico ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West
Graphic Novel
First Place: Zooey Gonsalves ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis
6th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Mila Rosenbaum ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark
Honorable Mention: Kensi Steed ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
Honorable Mention: Emery Moyd ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Jill Russell
Non-Fiction
First Place: Dylan Moody ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Norah Cannon ~ CY Middle School ~ Lindsay Casey
Honorable Mention: Addalee Lewis ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
Poetry
First Place: Finley Short ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Graphic Novel
First Place: Elijah Moran ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Avery Thomson ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
7th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Sophia Davis ~ Casper Christian School ~ Jody Scott
Honorable Mention: Willow Huffman ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark
Honorable Mention: Kellen LeClercq ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Non-Fiction
First Place: Landen McMillan ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Caleigh Dodson ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Scarlett Alleman
Poetry
First Place: Anna Blomstrom ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Caleigh Dodson ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Scarlett Alleman
Honorable Mention: Naomi Vreeman ~ Casper Christian School ~ Jody Scott
Graphic Novel
First Place: Kaynan Bitzan-Frias ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Shanel Wetzel
Honorable Mention: Naphtali Ribitzki ~ Casper Christian School ~ Jody Scott
Honorable Mention: Alden Frontiero ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
8th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Ryleigh Riggs ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Madison Nelson ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Emily Crane
Honorable Mention: Brooklyn Leonhardt ~ Dean Morgan Middle School ~ Lauren Voigt
Non-Fiction
First Place: John Niglio ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Poetry
First Place: Mateo Skaf ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Mirrary Hodgins ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Rikki Clark
Graphic Novel
First Place: Lillian Martin ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez
Honorable Mention: Uriah Rosenbaum ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark
9th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Tayven Nab ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Amelia Engelman ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Jason Murdock
Non-Fiction
First Place: Kathryn Thorne ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
Poetry
First Place: Isabell Stillabower ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Graphic Novel
First Place: Raela Kountz ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
10th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Desiree Duran ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Camden Ankeney ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn
Honorable Mention: Elenna Scoleri ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Matinovich
Non-Fiction
First Place: Max Dobson ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn
Poetry
First Place: Taelynn Salway ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn
Honorable Mention: Teaghan Maher ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Keyelyn Merdink ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Eberle Buhler
Graphic Novel
First Place: Maggie McConigly ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
11th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Natalie Owen ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
Non-Fiction
First Place: Ryan Collier ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
12th Grade
Fiction
First Place: Kylie Wall ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Honorable Mention: Lily Bates ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich
Non-Fiction
First Place: Sophia Jones ~ Natrona County High School ~ Ellie Bolender
Poetry
First Place: Kylie Wall ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young
Graphic Novel
First Place: Alayna Mellin ~ Natrona County High School ~ Ellie Bolender
Please contact Devin Hodgins for more information [email protected]
Let us know how we can help you and your young authors.
We appreciate all your hard work and support with students and literacy.
Let us know how we can help you and your young authors.
We appreciate all your hard work and support with students and literacy.