Yakima, WA – April 25, 2024 – The Yakima School District is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Voices/Voces writing contest. This annual event, sponsored by the Teaching and Learning Department, encourages the literary talents of students and staff across the district, spanning grades PK-12. This year’s contest saw a remarkable range of entries, highlighting the creativity and depth of our district's participants.

The contest winners, selected for their exceptional skills in narrative, poetry, and essay writing, will be honored at the Voices/Voces Writing Awards Ceremony. The celebration is set for Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Eisenhower High School Auditorium. Winners will receive a certificate and a copy of the "Voices/Voces 2024" district writing anthology, where their works will be published.

The event will showcase winners like Rory Scheidegger from McKinley Elementary, who captured the hearts of judges with his narrative "The Gamer," and Aubrey Gonzalez of Davis High School, whose poetic expression in "Paper and Ink" resonated deeply. In the essay category, Wilson Harper of Davis High School stood out with his insightful work, "Safeguarding the Future: Preventing Contamination in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life."

Erin Chaplin, the contest coordinator, expressed her excitement about this year’s entries: "The results are in, and they are nothing short of inspiring. Our students and staff have once again demonstrated their outstanding literary abilities and creative thinking."

The Yakima School District invites family, friends, and the community to join in celebrating these talented writers. The Voices/Voces Writing Awards Ceremony is an opportunity not only to recognize the winners but also to affirm the district's commitment to fostering a love of writing and literature among its students and staff.

For more information on the winners and to read their entries, please visit the Voices/Voces page on the district’s website at YSD7.org/learning/voices

Contact: Kirsten Fitterer Chief Communications Officer Yakima School District Email: fitterer@ysd7.org Media Inquiries: www.YSD7.org/media

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