MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT is proud to announce the winners of the 15th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. 282 children entered the contest and WQPT picked sixteen local winners (first, second, third and honorable mention) from kindergarten through third grade. Participants chose fact or fiction, prose or poetry.

Requirements included: original, single-authored stories with K - 1 students writing a minimum of 50 words and maximum of 200... and Grades 2 -3 writing a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 350. Each age group had to illustrate a minimum of 5 drawings.

Ten local readers, many retired teachers, picked their favorite stories which were then judged by five representatives from the sponsoring organizations. They selected the 16 local winners. "The judges had a difficult task picking the finalists because so many of the stories were fun and imaginative. The winning stories combined thoughtful storytelling with strong visuals to match," said WQPT Educational Outreach Director, Ana Kehoe. Sponsors for the contest were Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum, Figge Art Museum and WQPT, Quad Cities PBS.

Local winners will receive their awards at a ceremony on May 17th at 3:00 p.m. at the Deere-Wiman House. The winning stories will be on display at the Butterworth Center in Moline, May 17 - 29, at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, June 1 - June 19 and at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, June 22 -July 6. First place winners will compete for prizes in the national Reading Rainbow competition. The winners will be announced in July. Last year Jayda Brunkan from Eldridge was a national third place winner.

WQPT is the local public television station located in Moline, Illinois on the campus of Black Hawk College.

READING RAINBOW WINNERS 2009

KINDERGARTEN

?First Place

Baylor Verbrugge, Edward White Elementary, Eldridge.

?Second Place

Ilese Rodeffer, Avon Elementary, Avon, IL.

?Third Place

Stephanie Ruiz, Longfellow School, Rock Island.

?Honorable Mention

Qy Burke, Homeschooled, Bettendorf.

FIRST GRADE

?First Place

Jayda Brunkan, Edward White Elementary, Eldridge.

?Second Place

Abby Devinney, Temple Christian School, Moline.

?Third Place

Ellie Huh, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf.

?Honorable Mention

Blake Hasson, Alwood Elementary, Alpha, IL.

SECOND GRADE

?First Place

Grace Gugelmeyer, Longfellow School, Rock Island.

?Second Place

Mabel Losey, Alwood Elementary, Alpha, IL.

?Third Place

Nicholas Epplin, Winola Elementary, Viola, IL.

?Honorable Mention

Eunice Yoon, Prophetstown Elementary, Prophetstown, IL.

THIRD GRADE

?First Place

Giavanna Mariani, Pleasant View School, Bettendorf.

?Second Place

Olivia Nelson, Cody Elementary, LeClaire.

?Third Place

Wyatt Mohr, Mediapolis Community School, Mediapolis, IA.

?Honorable Mention

Katherine Moore, Earl Hanson Elementary, Rock Island.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - Do you enjoy Public Television? Do you like to volunteer? Do you like new and exciting experiences? Then consider becoming a WQPT/PBS Ambassador.

WQPT is seeking energetic college students for an exciting volunteer opportunity. Entering its fifth year, the WQPT/PBS Ambassador program is an opportunity for college students to represent public television at a variety of events throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Ambassadors are a more highly trained extension of the WQPT volunteer force representing the station at fairs, community and fundraising events and on television.

Ambassadors have come from Black Hawk College, St. Ambrose University, Illinois College, University of Iowa, Illinois State University, Kaplan University, Northern Illinois and Western Illinois University.

Former Ambassadors have said:

"The most rewarding part about being an Ambassador is seeing the smiles and joy on the kid's faces at the events. In all honesty, I feel as if I have just as much fun as the kids do - if not more!" Stephanie Regan from St. Ambrose University

"As I teach the kids, I feel as if they are teaching me something at the same moment. I learn from the kids that the simple things in life can sometimes be the most amazing ones!" Troy Keegan from Black Hawk College

"Being around kids makes me feel like I'm a kid again. Being a WQPT Ambassador is priceless--I know because I've been one for 3 years." Jessica Chen from University of Iowa

For more information and an application log on to www.wqpt.org. Application deadline is May 1, 2009. You may also mail applications to Quad Cities PBS, Attn: Ambassador Program, 6600 34th Avenue, Moline, IL 61265. Inquiries can be made at (309) 796-2424.

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