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Winners for Creative Writing Contest of the 62 Otero Arts Festival have been announced. This year’s contest received a record number of entries at 445. Entries came from students throughout southeastern Colorado. Students had the option of using any theme to help inspire their writings or to draw their inspiration from any real life situation.
Creative writing includes writing where the purpose is to express thoughts, feelings and emotions rather than to simply convey information. Creative writing expresses the writer’s thoughts and feelings in an imaginative, often unique, and poetic way.
According to Debbie Phillips, coordinator of the event, creative writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees thoughts and creativity allowing the writer to form an identity of their own.
Creative Writing Judge was Dr. Fawn-Amber Montoya, Associate Professor, Honors Program Director and Chicano Studies Program Coordinator at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Dr. Fawn-Amber Montoya completed her MA and PhD in History at the University of Arizona. Montoya completed a pre-doctoral fellowship at Texas Tech University before accepting a Tenure-Track line at Colorado State University- Pueblo. Montoya taught in the Chicano Studies program and History department for ten years before accepting a position as the director of University Honors. Montoya is the author of a number of publications and has been awarded University Awards in Excellence for Service and Student Advising and Mentoring.
Montoya is from Southern Colorado and her family has lived in the region since the mid-1860s. Her academic research is in Southwestern history, Colorado history, ethnicity, and gender. Montoya strives to connect her students’ academic careers to their future careers. She strongly believes that every student should have an internship experience that will help them succeed in their career.
“I was thrilled to read the creative writings this year. The students work was exceptional and it was encouraging to see the quality and depth of the writings that were submitted.” Montoya said.
Judge’s Best Representative Work, Best Overall Work High School Crystal Kendall, Essay: “Rosethorn”, Fowler, Mrs. Moosman
Judge’s Best Representative Work, Best Overall Work Middle School Heaven Martinez, Essay: “The Long Bus Ride Home”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams
Otero Junior College Writing Scholarship Aaron Oliver, Swink, Mrs. Grossen
Creative Books
Best Overall Book & Most Original Chyann Robinson, “Repeat: Cures of Asylum”, La Junta High School
Most Creative Book & Most Artistic Book Amethyst Jewell, “Myths of the Impossible”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr
Best Storyline Book Alyssa Mackey, “Dysfunctional Magic”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr
Poetry
7th Grade 1st, Angelina Salazar, “Where I am From”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 2nd, Addison Brusuelas, “Death”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Mameda 3rd, Dalton L. Carroll, “The Nightmare”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams HM, Luis Carale, “Time”, Swink, Mrs. Weber HM, Isabel Roybal, “Winter A Fine Season”, Swink, Mrs. Weber HM, Evenise Quintero, “Life and Death”, La Junta, Mrs. Moore
8th Grade 1st, Trent Johnston, “Branding”, La Junta, Mrs. Miner 2nd, Ian Backes, “The Perfect Game”, La Junta, Mrs. Miner 3rd, Emma Ledbetter, “Dad”, La Junta, Mrs. Miner HM, Alex Montoya, “The Moon and the Wolves”, La Junta, Mrs. Miner HM, Sammie Zumwalt, “Yellowstone: Viejo Alce Macho”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr HM, Carlos Carale, “Quartersworthy”, Swink, Mrs. Weber
9th Grade 1st, Kailani Aragon, “Nature’s Mirror”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin 2nd, Dawn Diaz, “Raindrops”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin 3rd, Yancie Franklin, “Summer: Sonnet 1”, Campo, Ms. Harris HM, Isaac Stephens, “A Ranchers Life”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr HM, Brayan Garcia-Cruz, “Poison”, Manzanola, Ms. Holmes HM, Kyle Bierbaum, “The Fox”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin
10th Grade 1st, Matt Huff, “Little Nightmare”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson 2nd, Keegan Russell, “Yellow Lines Blurred”, La Junta, Mr. Schmidt 3rd, Sandra Hernandez, “Trampled Flowers”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson HM, Crystalin Jewell, “Art of Origami and Life”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr HM, Alex Rivera, “The Courier”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr HM, Ean Martinez, “Tattoos”, Manzanola, Ms. Holmes
11th Grade 1st, Alyssa Chavez, “Wolf Like”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen 2nd, Lisa Dittemore, “November Night”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen 3rd, Mackenzie Turner, “Obligations”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen HB, Levi Collins, “Lurking Shadows”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen
12th Grade 1st, Alex Ritter, “Lost in Life”, La Junta, Mrs. Smith 2nd, Damien Bowers, “Silence”, La Junta, Mrs. Meiklejohn 3rd, Jasmine George, “A Hound’s Honor”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson HB, Taylor Efird, “Rain”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson HB, Savana Stites, “Porcelain Doll”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson HB, Emi Romero, “Farewell”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson
Essay
7th Grade 1st, Angelina Salazar, “The Truth Behind Moving”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 2nd, Alex Ramirez, “The Reason Why I Don’t Have a Valentine”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 3rd, Jamie Graham, “Drag Cars vs Drift Cars”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr HB, Justin Paolucci, “Bryce Harper”, Swink, Mrs. Weber HB, Emma Hanagan, “Deforestation”, Swink, Mrs. Weber
8th Grade 1st, Heaven Martinez, “The Long Bus Ride Home”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 2nd, Kiarrah Santistevan, “Getting Back Up”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Brusuelas 3rd, Daniel Escareno, “Got Exposed”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams HB, Shealie Schmidt, “The Last Call”, La Junta, Mrs. Miner
9th Grade 1st, Qierra Vigil, “The Princess”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 2nd, Val Leone, “Thin Ice”, Fowler, Mrs. Mossman 3rd, Kailani Aragon, “Hearts or Wallets”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin
10th Grade 1st, Hannah Smith, “Psychological Effects of Music on the Brain”, La Junta, Mr. Schmidt 2nd, Ian Kersey, “My Happy Place”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen 3rd, Lexi Bradshaw, “Back Bone”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen HB, George Cardenas, “A Sturdy Base For a Complex Structure”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr HB, Colt Honey, “Why Do They Kneel”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr
11th Grade 1st, Crysan Kendall, “Rosethorn”, Fowler, Mrs. Mossman 2nd, Triston Mendoza-Werner, “The Idiot’s Guide to Robbing a Bank”, RF, Mrs. Robinson
12th Grade 1st, Alex Whitfield, “Star Wars Battlefront II vs Call of Duty II”, La Junta, Mrs. Smith 2nd, Jade Mora-Menges, “Gun Control”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen 3rd, Laura Whalen, “Values of Losing a Parent”, Swink, Mrs. Weber HB, Hallie Romero, “College Transition”, Swink, Mrs. Weber
Short Story
7th Grade 1st, Luis Carale, “The Model Rocket Ship”, Swink, Mrs. Weber 2nd, Emma Martinez, “Missing…”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 3rd, Dalton L. Carroll, “Map!”, Manzanola, Mrs. Williams HB, Addison Johnston, “The Mistaken Suicide”, Swink, Mrs. Weber HB, Dajalina Flores, “Memories”, Swink, Mrs. Weber HB, Emma Hanagan, “Uninjured”, Swink, Mrs. Weber
8th Grade 1st, Carlos Carale, “Listening”, Swink, Mrs. Weber 2nd, Kooper Grinstead, “The Bag”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Brusuelas 3rd, Leia Mora-Menges, “The Missing Person”, Swink, Mrs. Weber HB, Nathaniel Encinias, “One Shot”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Brusuelas HB, Kiarrah Santistevan, “Little Blue Kite”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Brusuelas HB, Bethany Taullie, “I’m Fine”, Swink, Mrs. Weber
9th Grade 1st, Abigail Mayfield, “Not Who You Think It Is”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 2nd, Maresa Lucero, “Dollhouse”, Manzanola, Ms. Williams 3rd, Frederik Rikhof, “Catching a Virus”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin HB, Anisa Gonzalez, “Selfless”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin HB, Kyle Bierbaum, “Louis Hofwoll and the War of 3037”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin HB, Matthew Mendoza, “Run”, Swink, Mrs. Wallin
10th Grade 1st, Hannah Smith, “Case Files”, La Junta, Mr. Schmidt 2nd, Nariah Smith, “The Call and the Answer”, La Junta, Mr. Schmidt 3rd, Steven Hildreth, “The Once Invincible Man”, Fowler, Mrs. Mossman HB, Gilbert Archuleta, “Trip to the ER”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen HB, Olivia Lewis, “Robots Do It Better”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen HB, Alex Rivera, “The White Rose”, Cheraw, Mrs. Buhr
11th Grade 1st, Dimitrius Tenorio, “Waiting for Infinity”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson 2nd, Jill Wallace, “Blue Snow”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen 3rd, Esmeralda Perez, “May 12th”, La Junta, Mrs. Meiklejohn HB, Kayla Bierbaum, “The Girl That Heard the Dragon’s Cry”, Swink, Mrs. Grossen HB, Bonita Rael, “A Life Span in a Single Scent”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson HB, Shayne Ede, “The Cabin”, Fowler, Mrs. Mossman
12th Grade 1st, Savannah Vigil, “Snowy Weather”, Swink, Mrs. Weber 2nd, Danielle Lucero, “Equality?”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson 3rd, Jasmine George, “What is Love?”, Rocky Ford, Mrs. Robinson