2025 District Young Authors Awards Celebrate Student Literary Talents

Published: March 31, 2025

The 2025 District Young Authors Competition provides an exceptional platform for students in our community to showcase their writing, art, expression, and literacy talents.

The Young Authors Program celebrates the dedication and passion for writing and artistic design exhibited by students, supported by their teachers, schools, and families. From gripping narratives to poignant poetry, each piece showcases the students' literary excellence and their ability to captivate audiences with their unique voices and perspectives. The Young Authors Program celebrates student authors from all grade levels and brings together an extraordinary array of literary works in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novels. 

As part of our Strategic Plan, NCSD is committed to collaborating with parents and the community to support students in meeting or exceeding literacy expectations.  In collaboration with librarians and educators, the Natrona County Young Authors Awards provides an exceptional opportunity for students to celebrate and showcase their literary talents. Congratulations to all the student participants, and a big thank you to the educators and families who encourage and inspire them to read, write, and achieve! 

Congratulations, students! 

 

Young Authors Awards

2024-2025

Sponsored by the Casper Literacy Council

Recognizing the outstanding achievements of

Authors ~ Schools ~ Teachers

 

1st Grade

Fiction

First Place: Piper Jolivet ~ Summit Elementary ~ Tiffany Meisinger

Honorable Mention: Cora Onderko ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Angela Ourth

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Evy Detrick ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Linda Lillie

 

2nd Grade

Fiction

First Place: Louard Crumbaugh ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Jennifer Cole & Katherin Arango

Honorable Mention: Zoee Jonart ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Tiffany Catellier

Honorable Mention: Emmy Pickle ~ Summit Elementary ~ Amy Harmsen

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Victoria Barritt ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Tiffany Catellier

Honorable Mention: London Brood ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Bryar Goodwine

Honorable Mention: Blair Williams ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Samantha Weidmeier

 

Graphic Novel

First Place: Aurora Sullivan ~ Park Elementary ~ Bailee Peterson

Honorable Mention: Aleah Rowicki ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Ashley Dame

 

3rd Grade 

Fiction

First Place: Gracie Miller ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Kelly Umbach & Elsa Chavez

Honorable Mention: Alayah Cortez ~ Bar Nunn Elementary ~ Travis Snoberger

Honorable Mention: Paxton Amadio ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Dawn Ford

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Natalie Honken ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Michelle Adkins

Honorable Mention: Wyatt Rowley ~ Bar Nunn Elementary School ~ Travis Snoberger

 

Poetry

First Place: Amiyah Saldivar ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Dawn Ford

Honorable Mention: Graison Miller ~ Bar Nunn Elementary School ~ Travis Snoberger

Honorable Mention: Turner Swenson ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Katherine Piaia

 

Graphic Novel

First Place: Layla Schoonover ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Kathleen Fleming

 

4th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Hannah Smith ~ Park Elementary ~ Chris Beamer

Honorable Mention: Edie Thrasher ~ Journey Elementary ~ Devon Shew

Honorable Mention: Bryn Ballew ~ Verda James Elementary ~ Ben Mattila & Carlos Gonzalo

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Leo Beckstead ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Farren Markworth

Honorable Mention: Adalynn Salway ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West

 

Poetry

First Place: Harlowe Studer ~ Park Elementary ~ Chris Beamer

Honorable Mention: Emma Carrico ~ Midwest School ~ Regan West

 

Graphic Novel

First Place: Quinn Leimback ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Brittny Meyer


5th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Mila Rosenbaum ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark

Honorable Mention: Antonella Sanchez Larrea ~ Park Elementary ~ Chris Beamer

Honorable Mention: Emmeline Mellin ~ Homeschool ~ Jody Mellin

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Finley Short ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Jacy Short

Honorable Mention: Aliya Esmaiel ~ Park Elementary ~ Chris Beamer

Honorable Mention: Genna Murray ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis

 

Poetry

First Place: Adalynn Zempel ~ Sagewood Elementary ~ Kirsten Ellis

Honorable Mention: Anna Papich ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Alejandra Lattimer

 

Graphic Novel

First Place: Clara Swenson ~ Crest Hill Elementary ~ Kristen Fauss

 

6th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Oskar Smith ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

Honorable Mention: Noble West ~ Midwest School ~ Keri Graves

Honorable Mention: Morgan Henderson ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Jill Vance

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Lawson Wilson ~ CY Middle School ~ Lindsey Casey

 

Poetry

First Place: Cadence Boe ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

Honorable Mention: Vivian Cuban ~ CY Middle School ~ Whitney Wilking

 

Graphic Novel

First Place: Kelly McAtee ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

 

7th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Emelia Leimback ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Stacy Mogen

Honorable Mention: Nathan Monfre ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

Honorable Mention: Jonathan Christie ~ Midwest School ~ Keri Graves

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Mirrary Hodgins ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Scarlett Alleman

Honorable Mention: Angel Galicia Beltran ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Timothy Pearse

Honorable Mention: John Niglio ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

 

Poetry

First Place: Atleigh Smith ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Stacy Mogen

Honorable Mention: Mateo Skaf ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

 

Graphic Novel

First Place: Angel Galicia Beltran ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Timothy Pearse

Honorable Mention: Lillian Martin ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

Honorable Mention: Uriah Rosenbaum ~ Poison Spider School ~ Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark

 

8th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Arabella Juarez ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Jacqueline Bradley

Honorable Mention: Elijah Lunsford ~ Centennial Middle School ~ Lexi Lamb

Honorable Mention: Amelia Engelman ~ CY Middle School ~ Angela Hartl

 

Poetry

First Place: Jack Vondra ~ St. Anthony’s Tri-Parish Catholic School ~ Julie Fresquez

Honorable Mention: Katie Thorne ~ Casper Classical Academy ~ Jacqueline Bradley

 

9th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Kinsely Green ~ Natrona County High School ~ Carl Myers

Honorable Mention: Quinn Houck ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Katie Galloway

 

Poetry

First Place: Tayler Zanolli ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young

 

10th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Shane Johnson ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich

Honorable Mention: Mackenzie Wilmes ~ Natrona County High School ~ Carl Myers

 

11th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Elle Orszulak ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Krystina Lefeave

Honorable Mention: Aliyah Albrecht ~ Natrona County High School ~ Brianna Young

 

Poetry

First Place: Hannah Guthrie ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich

 

Graphic Novel

First Place: Alayna Mellin ~ Natrona County High School ~ Carl Myers

 

12th Grade

Fiction

First Place: Alice Lareau ~ Kelly Walsh High School ~ Laura Martinovich

Honorable Mention: Cyndel Harris ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn

Honorable Mention: Arielle Purcell ~ Natrona County High School ~ Carl Myers

 

Non-Fiction

First Place: Jeremy Liska ~ Midwest School ~ Daphne Vaughn

Honorable Mention: Madeline Elston ~ Natrona County High School ~ Greg Aitkenhead

 

Poetry

First Place: Arielle Purcell ~ Natrona County High School ~ Carl Myers