KET is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Young Writers Contest. This annual competition fosters creativity and literacy development by inviting students across the state to submit original works in poetry, illustrated stories, short stories, persuasive writing, and graphic novels. This year’s contest also included a special Civics category, highlighting student perspectives on civic engagement and responsibility.

Winners are listed below. Full versions of the winning entries will be available online at KET.org/WritersContest.

Illustrated Story – Early Elementary (Pre-K, K, 1)

First Place: Mabel Piper, Piper Academy, Lexington

Second Place: Lucas Caldwell, Soaring Oaks Academy, Harrodsburg

Third Place: Elly Mae Nunn, Creekside Elementary, Sonora 

Illustrated Story – Elementary

First Place: Mikayla Lewis, Clear Creek Elementary School, Shelbyville

Second Place: Kenneth Arnold, Glenn Marshall Elementary, Richmond

Third Place: Lucy Priest, Custer Elementary, Custer

Illustrated Story – Elementary Intermediate

First Place: Erica Stallard, Stopher Elementary, Louisville

Second Place: Ella Logan, Headquarters, Carrollton

Third Place: Moyiz Gabriel, Homeschool, Lexington

Illustrated Story – Middle School

First Place: Olive Snearly, Crosby Middle, Louisville

Second Place: Kiera Carpenter, Crosby Middle, Louisville

Third Place: Will Thomas, Oak Grove Classical, Philpot

Illustrated Story – High School

First Place: Jensen Cox-Rowe, Burgin Independent School, Harrodsburg

Second Place: Josie Phelps, Campbell County High School, Alexandria 

Third Place: Michaela Hogan, Franklin County High School, Frankfort

Graphic Novel – Elementary

First Place: Evelyn Deptola, Kenwood Station Elementary School, Crestwood

Graphic Novel – Intermediate Elementary

First Place: Erin Sinkovits, Meadowthorpe Elementary, Lexington 

Graphic Novel – Middle School

First Place: Vivian Nottingham, Holy Family Catholic School, Ashland

Graphic Novel – High School

First Place: Lucie McCaffrey, Lafayette High School, Lexington

Short Story – Early Elementary

First Place: Theo Thomas, Oak Grove Classical, Philpot

Short Story – Elementary

First Place: Alisha Raheja, Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary, Louisville

Second Place: Solomon Sweeney, Acorn Academy, Waddy

Third Place: Giada Gordon, Clear Creek Elementary School, Shelbyville

Short Story – Elementary Intermediate

First Place: Holt Wilson, Murray Middle, Murray

Second Place: Annalise Carlson, Ashland Elementary, Lexington

Third Place: Evanshi Kumar, Norton Commons Elementary, Louisville

Short Story – Middle School

First Place: Sally Yu, Saint Nicholas Academy, Louisville

Second Place: Aarav Diwan, Meyzeek Middle School, Louisville

Third Place: Caroline Fish, South Middle School, Henderson

Short Story – High School

First Place: Alexandria Williams, Greenwood High School, Bowling Green

Second Place: Kyla Fisher, Greenwood High School, Bowling Green

Third Place: Alice Lugauer, Lafayette High School, Lexington

Poetry – Early Elementary

First Place: Alice Anne Elliott, Elliott School of Life, Louisville

Second Place: Lulu Wells, Tully Elementary, Louisville

Poetry – Elementary

First Place: Alisha Raheja, Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary, Louisville

Second Place: Ryan Young, Kenwood Station Elementary School, Crestwood

Third Place: Jose Cornejo Avila, Clear Creek Elementary School, Shelbyville

Poetry – Elementary Intermediate

First Place: Erica Stallard, Stopher Elementary, Louisville

Second Place: Briar Ross, Lancaster Elementary School, Lancaster

Third Place: Annie Wilkie, Rosa Parks Elementary, Lexington

Poetry – Middle School

First Place: Lucy Castillo, John W. Bate Middle School, Danville

Second Place: Lily Mattingly, Stuart Pepper Middle School, Guston

Third Place: Eli Nichols, Grayson County Middle School, Leitchfield

Poetry – High School

First Place: Bailey Ruffin, Assumption High School, Louisville

Second Place: Peyton Kennedy, Breckinridge County High School, Hardinsburg

Third Place: Kittie Perkins, Franklin County High School, Frankfort

Persuasive Writing – Elementary Intermediate

First Place: Parmis Nikou, Rosa Parks Elementary, Lexington

Second Place: Anvi Kanuri, Rosa Parks Elementary, Lexington

Third Place: Elizabeth “Ellie” Waddell, Cassidy Elementary, Lexington

Persuasive Writing – Middle School

First Place: Nasir Tayabee, Turkey Foot Middle School, Edgewood

Second Place: Emma Clark, SCAPA Bluegrass, Lexington

Persuasive Writing – High School

First Place: Jessica Chen, DuPont Manual High School, Louisville

Second Place: Delanie Crump, Boyd County High School, Ashland

Persuasive Writing: Civics – Elementary

First Place: Alisha Raheja, Greathouse/Shryock Traditional Elementary, Louisville

Persuasive Writing: Civics – Elementary Intermediate

First Place: Joshua Bostwick, Pleasant Grove Elementary, Mount Washington

Second Place: Lillian Tekulve, Rosa Parks Elementary, Lexington

Third Place: Trishan Ram, Rosa Parks Elementary, Lexington

Persuasive Writing: Civics – Middle School

First Place: Elle Akers, Spencer County Middle School, Spencer County

Persuasive Writing: Civics – High School

First Place: Arjun Nalladimma, DuPont Manual High School, Louisville

Second Place: Daniel Abercrombie, Bullitt County Specialized Programs

Third Place: Alexis Cash, Mayfield High School, Mayfield

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, where learning comes to life for more than two million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on Twitter @KET and at facebook.com/KET.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, providing trusted programming, lifelong learning opportunities and essential services to more than two million people each week. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on X @KET and at facebook.com/KET.