The winners of the 27th annual Junior Orange Bowl Creative Writing Contest were honored at an awards ceremony at Books & Books in Coral Gables on Jan. 17.
Rebecca Ringler from RASG Hebrew Academy captured the first place prize, while Shani McCarley from RASG Hebrew Academy took second place and Claudia Ruiz from Hialeah Gardens Middle School was awarded third place.
Winning teachers, Jennifer Ohana of RASG Hebrew Academy and Odell Rivas from Hialeah Gardens Middle School were honored at the awards ceremony.
Five finalists were recognized as well.
The theme for the 2014-15 Creative Writing Contest was “What Can We Do About Climate Change?” The Junior Orange Bowl Creative Writing Contest was open to eighth grade students in South Florida. The Creative Writing Contest is co-sponsored by the South Florida Writers Association.
Dr. Steve Liebowitz, author, life coach, and managing partner of Wisdom At Work, was the guest speaker. Creative Writing chair Samantha Jones was emcee at the awards ceremony. The winning essays were read to a receptive crowd.
The contest winners and teachers were awarded prizes by the Creative Writing Committee sponsors: South Florida Writers Association, Books & Books, Friends of the Everglades, HistoryMiami, and Pérez Art Museum Miami.
The Junior Orange Bowl Royal Court Queen Emma Gillian, Princess Rebekah Marie Gadea, Princess Isabella Morales, and Little Sister Gwendolyn Odin added a sparkling presence to the awards presentation. Junior Orange Bowl mascot Jobie added to the spirit of the day.
The winning essays will be published on the Junior Orange Bowl website at www.jrorangebowl.org.
