Winners of this year’s Brome Bright Lights celebrated
Winners and of the 11th annual Brome Bright Lights, a writing competition, gathered this past Sunday afternoon, June 11, at Brome Lake Books for a special awards ceremony. Although everyone had been apprised of the judges’ decisions prior to the celebration, the big reveal for the grand prize surprised grade five student from Knowlton Academy, Forest Kolbe, who went home with a $200 cash prize for his outstanding story called “Hiding Winter”
With 125 entrants, elementary students coming from Mansonville, Cowansville, TBL, Bedford, Sutton, and Farnham as well as some who are being home-schooled, the five judges had their work cut out. Danny Mcauley, co-owner of Brome Lake Books, extolled the imagination and creativity of all the youngsters. He says that the competition is growing.
“The great thing is that we don’t have the same kids winning every year. We have had winners from all the participating schools.” The criteria for a winning entry sounds simple, but for anyone who knows about writing, it takes a lot of thought to make it right. Mcauley explained that the judges are looking for a good story that draws you in. It has to be readable and mentions the importance of good spelling and grammar.
Prizes for winners and runners up were issued to students from grades one to six. The audience was treated to readings from each of the winners’ stories. Kolbe, the grand prize winner, was not
shy to read his own story to everyone. Poised beyond his years, articulate and eager to share “Hiding Winter” with everyone, the enthusiastic student later described his love for geography and history. When he learned about the lonely island in Norway with a population of two, he knew that he had to create a story around it.
Mcauley says that the competition was spawned by author and songstress Julia Rohan. Both he and his wife, Lucy Hoblyn, have been judges with Rohan since the beginning. This year they were joined by Ted Yuleson and Yamaska Literary Association’s Executive Director Wendy Seys.
Another collaborative effort that the organizers are grateful for, the competition was strongly supported by the Knowlton Lions Club and Knowlton Players, who provided the funds to cover all the cash prizes. Winners of each grade were each awarded $50 while the grand prize winner gleaned $200. And Brome Lake Books gave a $20 gift certificate to the runner-ups from each grade.
Winners of the 2017 Brome Bright Lights Competition are as follows: Grade 1 Winner: Amelya Jersey (Mansonville Elementary) Story: The Lost Woods
Runner up: No runner up in grade 1 this year Grade 2 Winner: Hektor Gravel (Mansonville Elementary) Story: Jimmy Breaks His Foot
Runner up: Franchesca Murphy (Mansonville Elementary) Story: The Boy and the Bullies Grade 3 Winner: Cian Henchey (Mansonville Elementary) Story: The boy who Wanted to be a Knight
Runner up: Dexter Greer (Knowlton Academy) Story: The Flying Panda Grade 4 Winner: Raphaelle Coley (Knowlton Academy) Story: The Big Secret
Runner up: Devon Whitehead (Heroes’ Memorial) Story: Locked Out Grade 5 Winner: Forest Kolbe (Knowlton Academy) Story: Hiding Winter
Runner up: Mia Tetreault (Heroes’ Memorial) Story: My Life as a Candle Grade 6 Winner: Wyatt Patch (Heroes’ Memorial) Story: It’s Just Not the Same
Runner up: Aidan Meacher (Knowlton Academy) Story: Minecraft Madness