KET is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Young Writers Contest. The annual contest encourages creative expression and literacy development by inviting students in grades Pre-K through high school to submit original graphic novels, illustrated stories, poetry and short stories.

This year, KET received 1,443 entries from students across Kentucky.

The top three winners, along with a list of finalists for each division, are listed below. Artwork from winning entries is available for viewing at the KET Young Writers Contest website.

Poetry – Elementary Division

  • First place: Pippy Raymond, Tully Elementary, Louisville
  • Second place: Lily Terrell, Burgin Elementary, Danville
  • Third place: Harvey Stubbs, Homeschool, Richmond

Poetry – Middle Grades Division

  • First place: Ellias Pitmon, J Graham Brown School, Louisville
  • Second place: Sydney McIlwraith, Tastes Creek Middle School, Lexington
  • Third place: Ava Bogard, Calloway County Middle School, Murray

Poetry – High School Division

  • First place: Sophy Zhao, duPont Manual High School, Louisville
  • Second place: Esia West, Eastern High School, Louisville
  • Third place: Sylvia Freire, Eastern High School, Louisville

Graphic Novel

  • First place, Elementary Division: Ava Evans, Tully Elementary, Louisville
  • First place, Middle Grades Division: Lucie McCaffrey, SCAPA at Bluegrass, Lexington
  • First place, High School Division: Claire Higginbotham, Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning, Nicholasville

Illustrated Story – Early Childhood Division

  • First place: Hadiyah Gauhar, Chenoweth Elementary, Louisville
  • Second place: Grayson Stearns, Glenn Marshall Elementary, Richmond
  • Third place: Annelyse Buckley, Lexington Christian Academy, Lexington

Illustrated Story – Elementary Division

  • First place: Chloe Iranpour, Eastern Elementary, Georgetown
  • Second place: Gigi Blalock, W.R. McNeill Elementary School, Bowling Green
  • Third place: Maryam Gauhar, Greathouse Shryock Elementary, Louisville

Illustrated Story – Middle Grades Division

  • First place: Calvin Rittichier, Crosby Middle School, Louisville
  • Second place: Akshaya Majji, Crosby Middle School, Louisville
  • Third place: Harper Mohlman, Crosby Middle School, Louisville

Short Story – Early Grades Division

  • First place: Susannah Goodrich, Homeschool, Frankfort
  • Second place: Colton Knight, Wheeler Elementary, Louisville
  • Third place: Corabel Hewitt, Homeschool, Louisville          

Short Story – Middle Grades Division

  • First place: Lucy Mudd, Grayson County Middle School, Leitchfield
  • Second place: Eden Potterton, SCAPA Bluegrass, Lexington
  • Third place: Ava Bogard, Calloway County Middle School, Murray

Short Story – High School Division

  • First place: Ella Clanton, Meade County High School, Brandenburg
  • Second place: Rylie Humphress, Lafayette High School, Lexington
  • Third place: Carmindy Phillips, Danville High School, Stanford