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Congratulations, Winners!

The top winners of the Kendallville Public Library's 27th Annual Kleiman Creative Writing Contest were announced during an Awards Ceremony at the Community Learning Center on Tuesday, April 15. Nearly 200 students entered books for the contest in the categories of Fiction, Non-Fiction, Graphic Novel, Chapter Books, Alphabet Books and Poetry. Books were judged, bound, and returned to the students during the awards ceremony.


The first place winners are listed below. They each received a $50 gift card and will have their books placed in the KPL collection for all to read!

First place winners:


4th Grade:

  • Non-Fiction: All About Frogs by Paisley Goolsby (Wayne Center)
  • Fiction: Lucius and the Lost Brain Cell by Raven Duckwall (St. John's)
  • Graphic Novel: The Pencil War By Karalynn Vanderpoll (Avilla)
  • Alphabet Book: Awesome Animals by Kaley Spence (Wayne Center)
  • Poetry: Video Games by Tylan Helmuth (Wayne Center)

5th Grade:

  • Non-fiction: Child of God by Marie Grosvenor (St. Mary's)
  • Fiction: Silent Music by Olivia Barton (St. Mary's)
  • Poetry: Water by Eva Wysong (St. Johns)
  • Chapter Book: Lost at War by Declan Monroe (St. Mary's)

6th Grade:

  • Fiction: Age Gap Sisters by Mataya Justice (St. Johns)
  • Alphabet Book: M is for Montessori by Eva Gilley (Oak Farm)
  • Poetry: If Only by Kade Miller

Second place winners:

4th Grade:

  • Non-Fiction: Ava Aguilar, Wayne Center
  • Fiction: Eva Maier, Wayne Center
  • Graphic Novel: Kenlie Harshberger, Wayne Center
  • Alphabet Book: Renzleigh Moore, Wayne Center
  • Poetry: Carter Moore, Wayne Center

5th Grade:

  • Non-Fiction: Lincoln Moser, St. John's
  • Fiction: Samantha Morris, St. Mary's
  • Poetry: Hadley Buwalda, St. John's
  • Chapter Book: Claire Dettmer, St. Mary's

6th Grade:

  • Fiction: Violet Dowling, Oak Farm 
  • Alphabet Books: Adriana Harris, St. Mary's 
  • Poetry: Matilda Villarreal, Oak farm

Third place winners:

4th Grade:

  • Alphabet Book: Remi Haney, Wayne Center
  • Fiction: Hunter Parshall, Wayne Center
  • Poetry: Grayson Collins, Wayne Center
  • Non-fiction: Reece Acker, Wayne Center

5th Grade:

  • Non-Fiction: Lyric Hirschy, St. John's
  • Fiction: Sylvia M. Yoder, St. Mary's
  • Chapter Book: Bayleigh Gibson, St. John's
  • Poetry: Leahla Kimmel, St. John's

6th Grade:

  • Alphabet Book: Graydon Coan, St. Mary's
  • Fiction: Abigial Smith, St. John's

The full powerpoint can be found here.

David Kleiman, son of Isadore and Pearl Kleiman, who started the contest in his parents' honor, continues to be involved today, along with his own children and grandchildren. The library is grateful for their continued support. The Kleiman family attended the contest and told the audience a bit about the history of their family and how they were inspired to create the contest.