From the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources:
The North Carolina Center for the Book, a program of the State Library of North Carolina, within the Department of Cultural Resources, announces the 2012 North Carolina state winners in the Letters About Literature contest, an annual reading and writing competition for students in grades 4 through 12.
Nationwide, almost 59,000 students entered the 2012 competition, which is a project of The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores. Target sponsors “Letters About Literature†as part of its national reading initiative, “Ready. Sit. Read!†The North Carolina Center for the Book has sponsored the statewide program since 1995.
There are three levels of competition, and the state winner at each level receives a $50 Target Gift Card in addition to a $75 cash prize awarded by the North Carolina Center for the Book. Honorable Mention recipients in each level receive a $50 cash prize. The three North Carolina winners advance to the national level for final judging and selection of national winners.
North Carolina’s award winning letters and the list of state winners, honorable mentions, and semi-finalists can be found on the State Library of North Carolina Web site at www.statelibrary.ncdcr.gov.
For more information on the “Letters About Literature†program, including free teaching resources to guide students through the reader response and writing process, visit the program Web site at www.lettersaboutliterature.org.
North Carolina Winners and Honorable Mentions:
Level I (grades 4-6)
State Winner
Evan Muir, grade 5, Clemmons, N.C.
Honorable Mention
Calli Burgwardt, grade 5, Jonathan Valley Elementary School, Waynesville, N.C.
Juna Hartzler, grade 6, Hendersonville Middle School, Hendersonville, N.C.
Kayla McLaurin, grade 6, Metrolina Regional Scholars’ Academy, Charlotte, N.C.
Megan Pryor, grade 6, Hendersonville Middle School, Hendersonville, N.C.
Level II (grades 7-8)
State Winner
Ruthie Morton, grade 7, Hendersonville Middle School, Hendersonville, N.C.
Honorable Mentions
Dana Erickson, grade 8, Millenium Charter Academy, Mount Airy, N.C.
Brenna Hardy, grade 8, Exploris Middle School, Raleigh, N.C.
Emma Smith, grade 7, Hendersonville Middle School, Hendersonville, N.C.
Level III (grades 9-12)
State Winner
Alex White, grade 10, Maiden High School, Maiden, N.C.
Honorable Mentions
Sarah Claypoole, grade 11, Providence High School, Charlotte, N.C.
Emily MacDonald, grade 11, Providence High School, Charlotte, N.C.
Helen Mun, grade 11, Providence High School, Charlotte, N.C.
Sara Kifle, grade 11, Charlotte N.C.