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Letters about Literature 2002

The Indiana Center for the Book, in conjunction with the Weekly Reader Corporation and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, recently cosponsored the LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2002 essay contest.

The "Letters About Literature" project is based on research showing that students who read, write better and students who write, read more, according to national project director Cathy Gourley. This program focuses on the emotional side of reading. In this competition students are invited to write an essay, in the form of a letter to an author, about how the author's book had an impact on the child's life.

There are two competition levels: Level I for students in grades 4-7 and Level II for students in Grades 8-12. Across the nation more than 25,000 students entered this annual competition. In Indiana 1,202 essays, representing more that 85 schools, were submitted. From this pool of entries, at the state level, first, second, and third place winners were selected at each level. Cash prizes of $100.00, $75.00, and $50.00 were awarded to the winners in their respective categories.

Level I winners were:

First Place:

Lauren Wallace
Tecumseh Middle School, Grade 7
Lafayette, IN
Title: That Special Someone (poem)
By Francis Thompson

Winning Letter

Second Place:

Kayla Cottingham
Tipton Middle School, Grade 6
Tipton, IN
Title: What's Wrong With Timmy?
By Maria Shriver

Letter unavailable

Third Place:

Sarah Ramon
South Newton Middle School, Grade 7
Kentland, IN
Title: It Happened to Nancy
By (Anonymous Author)

Winning Letter

Level II winners were:

First Place:

Lindsay Levin
Carmel Jr. High School, Grade 8
Carmel, IN
Title: Tuesdays with Morrie
By Mitch Albom

Winning Letter

Second Place:

John Sullivan
Lincoln Middle School, Grade 8
Indianapolis, IN
Title: Birches (poem)
By Robert Frost

Winning Letter

Third Place:

Nick Green
Clarksville High School, Grade 12
Clarksville, IN
Title: Elder's Game
By Orson Scott Card

Winning Letter

Indiana judges for the Level I entries were Robyn Bowers, Carmel-Clay Public Library; Virginia Terpening, Indiana Medical History Museum; Nancy Wolfe, Indiana Junior Historical Society. Level II judges were Marie Albertson, Indiana State Library; Nancy Conner, Indiana Humanities Council; Kathy Helmond, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

The Indiana Center for the Book is a nonprofit corporation based in Indianapolis and devoted to encouraging a love of reading and interest in books and the written word.