The students who have won in these three categories are invited to the Mielke Arts Center at 1:00 p.m. on May 17, 2026, to receive their awards. All students are invited to attend, including those who did not win an award. All students attending can sign up for a chance to win a door prize.
Nonfiction Winners in 2026
Grade Group 1-2
First Place – Thomas Ullmer
Second Place – Isaac Selle
Grade Group 3-5
First Place – Huck Goes
Second Place – William Schlais
Third Place – Clair Froelich
Honorable Mentions – Marie Ullmer, William Schlais, Stasia Ekdahl, Brock Reedy
Grade Group 6-8
First Place – Kynzlee Arndt
Second Place – Timothy Ullmer
Third Place – Timothy Ullmer
Grade Group 9-12
First Place – Abigail Goers
Second Place – Willow White
Poetry Winners in 2026
Grade Group 1-2
First Place – Elli Farley
Second Place – Olivia Kast
Third Place – Alfred Gueths
Grade Group 3-5
First Place – Deklan Huntington
Second Place Peyton Ejnick
Third Place – Eli Schmidt
Grade Group 6-8
First Place – Xavier J. Szyka
Second Place – Elizabeth Schlais
Third Place – Elizabeth Schlais
Honorable Mention – Robert Gouney
Grade Group 9-12
First Place – Jocelyn Westphal
Second Place – Josie Gueths
Third Place Aliza L. Sonheim
Honorable Mention – Mea Buettner, Jennifer Reyes Martinez
Fiction Winners in 2026
Grade Group 1-2
First Place – Olivia Kast
Second Place – Abel Mathwich
Third Place – Ava Carroll
Honorable Mention – Rylea Cumberland
Grade Group 3-5
First Place – Brielle Arndt
Second Place – Keaton Lee Bakeer
Third Place – William Schlais
Honorable Mention – Brooklynn Koon, Jodi Wild
Grade Group 6-8
First Place – Elizabeth Schlais
Second Place – Elizabeth Schlais
Third Place – Bailey Wild
Honorable Mention – Elizabeth Schlais, Elias Reiter
Grade Group 9-12
First Place – Cadence Wildenberg
Second Place – Ava Engel
Third Place – Emiley Moon
