CLEARFIELD – The Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Public Library recently held a poetry contest for local students. With the closing of schools and the library, the students were asked to submit their entries online.
The contest saw students from local schools such as West Branch, Philipsburg-Osceola, Clearfield, Curwensville, St. Francis and the Clearfield Christian Alliance School.
Home school students were also encouraged to participate. Overall, the library received 154 entries representing five age groups. Each age group was awarded a first, second and third place winner with several honorable mentions.
This year an additional award was created. The Inspire Award was created to recognize two outstanding students who captured the essence of what poetry is all about.
Their poems saw to “inspire” a feeling in the reader by their choice of words. Our first winners of this award were Ethan Lutchko, a fifth-grader from West Branch and Everett Miller, an 11-grader from Clearfield Area Junior-Senior High School.
Both were awarded a certificate of accomplishment, a framed copy of their poem and a gift card from Amazon. A plaque will appear in the library recognizes them as the 2020 Inspire winners.
The contest was brought back last year after a lengthy absence. Given the concerns over the coronavirus, a poetry reception was not held this year.
Instead winners and their families were invited to arrange a time to come to the library. While adhering to social distance guidelines, the student was given the opportunity to read their poem and have it recorded.
Winners run in this family with Cheryl Livergood, who was a second-place winner in the third- to fourth-grade level and Rex Livergood, a first-place winner in the fifth- to sixth-grade level. (Provided photo)
The public will have the opportunity to view all the winners by visiting the library’s Web site and Facebook page in the coming days when the event is uploaded.
The library is pleased to recognize the following winners:
First – Second Grade:
- First Place, Hadley Lutchko
- Secon Place, Elliott Records
- Third Place, Garrett Wood
- Honorable Mentions, Braylee Palmer and Dylan Wall
Third – Fourth Grade
- Third Place, Aryan Negado
- Second Place, Cheryl Livergood
- Third Place, Danny Finney
Fifth – Sixth Grade
- First Place, Rex Livergood
- Second Place, Sonny Diehl
- Third Place, Brayden Wills
- Honorable Mentions, Lily Davidson and Haley Custaney
Seventh – Ninth
- First Place, Sapphire Bias
- Second Place, Sarah Huegler
- Third Place, Ethan Achmoody
- Honorable Mentions, Remington Crawford and Eva Bisbey
10-12th
First Place, Haley Gray
Second Place, Jensen Duke
Third Place, Skylynn Teats
Honorable Mentions, Tarah Jacobson and Brian Folmar
Staff gave a special thanks to their judges who had the challenge to select the winners. Also, the library wishes to acknowledge the Clearfield Woman’s Club and the Clearfield Business and Professional Women who sponsored the event.
The library would like to thank everyone who participated and wish them a safe and happy return to school this fall.