Young poets wrapped up Northwest Indiana’s World Creativity and Innovation Week on Saturday (April 20) at The Nest in the Michigan City Arts District. The event concluded a week-long focus on “Celebrating Creativity in Our Community!”
Bill Halliar, committee chair for the Week, opened the afternoon by congratulating the contestants for their willingness to try creative writing, the courage to read their poetry to the audience, and the “amazing” poems themselves. For the three judges, he said, some of the poems made them laugh– and some evoked tears.
The audience of students, their families and community members understood exactly what Halliar meant as the winners read their work. In one instance, there was hardly a dry eye as La Porte senior, Sarah McCormick, read her poem, "You Were My Sunshine." The poem was a tribute to her late great-grandfather.
Before the winners were announced, Cynthia Hedge, CEO of the Center for Creative Solutions, stated that “this year’s World Creativity and Innovation Week showed again that innovation and creativity is alive and well in our communities.” She noted the wide-range of events showcasing innovation in business, leadership, the arts, technology, complex problem solving, education, history and community service, to name a few.
“Science proves we are all creative to one degree or another-- and in one area or another. It’s part of our DNA and what makes humans uniquely different from animals, machines and everything else,” Hedge said.
The contest winners and the name of their poem, school and teachers were:
Second Grade:
1st Bailee Edinger, "The Lighthouse," Coolspring Elementary School, Mrs. Covington
2nd Christian Kelly, "Eagles," Coolspring Elementary School, Mrs. Covington
3rd Finn Hendricks, "The Cool Sand Dunes," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
Third Grade:
1st Leilany Cervantes, "Beach," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich
2nd Lauren Furore --"The Beach," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes<br/ >3rd Mason Deutscher, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich
Fourth Grade:
1st Grace Bacztub, "Garwoods," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
2nd Lillian Furore, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
3rd Alberto Aguirre, "Haiku about Lake Michigan," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
Fifth Grade:
1st Mia Thompson, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
2nd Katelynn Schulp, "Going to the Beach," Coolspring Elementary School, Mr. Robert Bauer
3rd Lucas Nelson, "Lake Michigan," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
Sixth Grade:
1st Ellie Hopper, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
2nd Jaden Wilson, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
3rd Carson Morford, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
Seventh Grade:
1st Allyson Henrich, "The City by the Lake," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich
2nd Deia Noelle Mark, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich
3rd Alejardro Aguirre, "Lake Michigan," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich
Eighth Grade:
1st Dane Kniola, "Haiku to Lake Michigan," Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
2nd Elizabeth Bahena, "The Beach," Queen of All Saints 3rd Jacob Zientarski, Queen of All Saints, Mrs. Moskovich/Mrs. Zerbes
3rd Melody Pearson, "As Time Passes," Westville Middle School, Ms. Emily Strudas
Twelfth Grade:
1st Sarah McCormick, "You Were My Sunshine," La Porte High School, Mrs. Cooper
2nd Alicia Lowry, New Prairie High School, Mrs. Sinka
3rd Katrina Cooper, "Changing Always," La Porte High School, Mrs. Brown
Halliar noted that “Zine & Small Press” is the final event of the community celebration. The Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 West 2nd Street, Michigan City is sponsoring the 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. program. It is free; however, an exhibitor must register in advance.
Each year, the Center for Creative Solutions has led the local efforts to encourage the use of innovation in everyone’s homes, schools, workplaces, organizations, government and communities. It is a non-profit organization providing facilitation, training and consulting to clients across the United States.
For more information, go to CenterforCreativeSolutions.com, send an email to creativity52@comcast.net or telephone 219-861-0955.