PARTICIPANTS AND AWARDS
Participating Schools
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
Congratulations
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.