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