Bob Jones winners in the Young Writers’ Contest are, from left, Ingrid Hickey, Kaitlin Fiscus, Ashley Williams, Kristie Martins, Mary Butgereit, Kathryn Mellema, Jake Sims, Sascha Kirkham, Alanis Craig, Victoria Hollingsworth, Madelyn Wong, Storm Taylor and Emily Bohatch. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Students in Madison public and private schools captured about 50 percent of awards in the 2013 Young Writers’ Contest for North Alabama schools, sponsored by Huntsville Literary Association.

During the contest’s 45 years, the association has encouraged youth in grades 1-12 to explore creative writing and literary arts. The awards ceremony for all divisions was held at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on May 5.

In senior-level poetry, juniors from Bob Jones High School swept all places with Storm Taylor in first place, Kristie Martins in second and Sascha Kirkham in third. Ingrid Hickey, Emily Bohatch and Alanis Craig received honorable mentions.

Mary Butgereit, a junior at Bob Jones, led the Madison writers in senior-level short story with third place. Receiving honorable mention were Bob Jones junior Alanis Craig and seniors Kaitlin Fiscus, Victoria Hollingsworth, Kathryn Mellema, Jacob Sims, Ashley Williams and Madelyn Wong, along with James Clemens High School juniors Ari Bailey and Michael Resnick, sophomore Abigail Howland and freshman Michael Parker.

James Clemens juniors Rebecca Odum and Madeline Corron also earned honorable mention and second and third place art prizes, respectively.

Brandy Panagos teaches all the Bob Jones writers. At James Clemens, Kendra Harper, Clay Combs, Jeff Dunnavant, Jane Herndon and Elizabeth Vaughn are mentors.

Madison elementary students also were contestants. For poetry in lower elementary grades, Mary Frances Welsch of Heritage Elementary School received honorable mention. Poetry finalists in upper elementary were Alexandra Meyer, Rainbow Elementary School, second place; and honorable mention for Marielle Baumgartner, Charlie Makowski and Nyiere Joseph of Rainbow.

In the Junior Poetry category, students with honorable mention honors were Lauren Schlosser, St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Allie McMillen, Heritage.

For short story in junior high, Katherine Koons of St. John’s captured first place; Paige Bounds, Liberty Middle School, honorable mention; and Ashley Langwinski, St. John’s, honorable mention.

Ann Iott, Tammy Brunton, Leigh Bishop, Karen Ryan and Ambra Johnson teach these students.

Nancy Corbeille chaired the contest.