The contest is open to students in Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade. Every entrant will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by Reading Rainbow host, LeVar Burton. Stories must be the original work of the child. They may write fact or fiction, prose or poetry. All entries must be postmarked by Friday, April 3, 2009, and sent to WQPT, 6600 34th Avenue, Moline, Illinois 61265 or delivered to WQPT in Building 2 at Black Hawk College in Moline. Sixteen winners (four selected from each grade) will receive local recognition on WQPT and win special prizes. First place winners will compete for national prizes. Winning stories will be displayed at the Butterworth Center in Moline, Illinois, the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa and the Family Museum in Bettendorf, Iowa. Winners will be notified in late April, celebrated at a reception in their honor at Deere-Wiman House on May 17 and invited to appear in a Reading Rainbow promo on WQPT. Last year one of WQPT's local winners, Jayda Brunkan of the Ed White School, went on to be a 3rd place finisher in the national competition. There were 45,000 contest entrants nationwide and Jayda was one of only 12 national winners. "Jayda was our first national winner. Wouldn't it be nice if one of our contestants would win again?" said Ana Kehoe, WQPT Education Outreach Director.
The sponsors are also hosting workshops to help Kindergarten through 3rd grade students with their writing and illustrating skills. Participants are not required to enter the contest. Parents are also invited to learn how to assist children with writing and editing stories. The 1 ½ hour workshops will be held:
° Sat., Feb. 7, 10 a.m.: The Family Museum in Bettendorf, free with the cost of admission
° Sat., Feb. 7, 10 a.m.: Rock Island Public Library, no fee
° Sat., Feb. 28, 10:30 a.m.: Moline Public Library, no fee
Please contact the museum and libraries to sign up for the workshop.
To find out more about entering the contest log on to www.wqpt.org.
Funding and support for the project has been provided in part by the Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House, Figge Art Museum and Family Museum.
WQPT is a broadcast service of Black Hawk College located in Moline, Illinois.
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