Thank you to all schools, districts and teachers for their hard work to ensure another successful writing year!

Atwater Elementary School District

Aileen Colburn

Bellevue Elementary

Bellevue Senior

Juniper

Mitchell K-6

Mitchell Senior

Peggy Heller

Thomas Olaeta

Ballico-Cressey School District

Ballico Elementary

Cressey Elementary

Delhi Unified School District

El Capitan Elementary

Harmony Elementary

Schendel Elementary

Diocese of Fresno

Our Lady of Mercy

St. Anthony School

Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District

Bryant Middle School

El Nido Elementary School District

El Nido Elementary

Gustine Unified School District

Gustine Elementary

Hilmar Unified School District

Elim Elementary

Hilmar High School

Livingston Union Elementary School District

Selma Herndon

Yamato Colony

McSwain Union Elementary School District

McSwain Elementary

Merced City School District

Burbank

Chenoweth

Fremont

Hoover Middle

Muir

Sheehy

Stefani

Preschool

Merced County Office of Education

Merced Scholars Charter

Valley Community School Atwater

Merced River School District

Washington Elementary

Weaver Union School District

Farmdale

Pioneer

Weaver Middle

Winton School District

Winfield Elementary

Winton Middle School

About 2,600 entries from students throughout Merced County were received for the Merced County Writing Festival this spring. Students submitted entries virtually to show their skills in poetry and prose. Nearly 1,000 awards will be distributed to students throughout Merced County.

The event, sponsored by the Merced County Office of Education, is in its 40th year.

For the COVID years, the in-person events were cancelled for the health and safety of students, their families and staff. In 2020, to replace the in-person writing display typically held at the Merced Mall, a website was created to showcase all of the winning entries.  Due to renovations and construction at the mall, it was decided to continue the website display and present awards at board meetings or special ceremonies at districts and schools.  

Students from preschool through 12th grade selected from topics in 40 different categories in poetry and prose. Students could choose short stories, essays, letters or poems.

Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen said literacy and writing skills are fundamental to educational success. “It’s important to foster creativity and writing skills, especially during uncertain times. I am proud of all the students that participated and school staff that helped to acknowledge and celebrate this work.”

Digital entries were judged by teachers from participating schools. Students receive ribbons for first, second and third place and the top two entries for each grade are awarded gold medals; one for poetry and one for prose. Awards will be delivered to school sites and districts for distribution during end of year activities, school board meetings, or their own district award ceremonies.