A letter written by a fourth-grader at Southwest Allen County Schools to an award-winning author has become known across the state.
Adeline “Addie” Pyle's third-place win in the Indiana Literature Letter Contest will be recognized April 18 in a virtual ceremony featuring best-selling Hoosier author Rob Harrell, the district said. .
The Whispering Meadows Elementary School student will receive a small cash prize and her letter will be published in a collection of winning letters.
Addy said in a statement that just participating in the contest was enough.
“It was an honor just to be able to participate in the contest,” she said. “I never thought I would win.”
The contest, open to students in grades 4 through 12, required students to read a literary work, such as a book or poem, and write a letter to the author. The rules state that students must create a conversation about how the work changed the student's view of themselves and their world.
Addie, whose teacher is Abby Guntle, read The War That Saved Lives by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. According to her website, the author is originally from Fort Wayne but currently lives in Tennessee.
In a letter, Addy told Brubaker Bradley that the novel gave her confidence and showed her the value of listening to the encouragement of others, especially when faced with self-doubt.
“This novel meant so much to me and had so many positive influences,” Adi writes in conclusion. “I think all children should read your novel. Thank you for writing this novel and freeing me (and all children who need it).”
This contest is a program of the Indiana Book Center, an affiliate of the Library of Congress. It is supported by the James and Madeline McMullen Family Foundation and the Indiana State Library Foundation.
Students competed in three divisions grouped by grade.
bluffton
The Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District board approved assistant principal appointments at two schools last month. Erin Rausch Come to Bluffton Harrison Elementary School. chad greaser She plans to attend Bluffton Harrison Middle School. Both will begin their new roles in July.
FWCS
The Fort Wayne Community Schools Board of Directors recognized the Wayne High School saxophone quartet for earning a gold medal in the Indiana State School Music Association state solo and ensemble event. The last time Wayne received this recognition was over 10 years ago.All members are seniors Zane Bisig and Jordan Merriman with my juniors John Hollander and Devon Walton. kenneth woods I'm the band's director.
The FWCS Board of Directors approved a $6,568 robotics competition grant from the Indiana State Department of Education to Snyder High School. This funding will support the costs of operating the robotics program, including registration fees and travel expenses.
L3Harris hosted events across the country to commemorate National Engineers Week, including one in Fort Wayne. On February 24th, more than 150 of his students participated in science, technology, engineering and math activities at FWCS. L3Harris engineers showed kindergarteners through eighth graders the basics of a successful rocket launch and shared the excitement that STEM fields bring.
Indiana Institute of Technology
Nationally known author and higher education leader Michelle Wise He will be the commencement speaker at Indiana Tech University on May 11 at Memorial Coliseum. At the ceremony, he will be awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to the university and higher education. This event is free and open to all Indiana Tech students, their families, alumni, and the general public. No tickets required.
online school
Indiana Connections Academy and Indiana Connections Career Academy, tuition-free, full-time public virtual companion schools, are scheduled to enroll next school year.
Online information sessions are scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m. at Indiana Connections Career Academy and April 11 at 6 p.m. at Indiana Connections Academy. For more information, please visit www.connectionsacademy.com/indiana-virtual-school or www.connectionsacademy.com/indiana-online-school.
recognition
Purdue University College of Agriculture recognizes urban public utilities stacey havilland He was honored as the 2024 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award recipient during a ceremony held on the West Lafayette campus last month.
SACS
Woodside Middle School's dance team has been named state champions in the Indiana High School Dance Team Association's middle school hip-hop division. The team members are Lexi Bilodeau, clara brandall, Olivia Brzozowski, Brooklyn Donnelly, Addison Ehinger, Adrian Evans, chloe ferendelli, Brooke Goeglein, Ebby Heck, Elena Kimani, Liliana Mock, kiri nelson, harper albin, Kamia Oldham, carla peterson, Elsie Schwartz and Delilah Sloka.
scholarship
Nearly 70 high school seniors participated in Huntington University's fourth annual Spirit of a Forester Scholarship Contest.Including scholarship recipients Aubrey Crookberg Hoagland's. Samuel Stults of Huntington. emily adams and Claire Schneider of Fort Wayne.and caitlin bollinger and brady schroder of Columbia City.
state capitol
State Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, welcomes students cooper Gibbs canterbury high school sophia main From Bluffton High School to the State Capitol. Students toured the building as pages, observed debates from the Senate chamber, and interacted with state senators. Students in grades 6 through 12 participate in the Page program on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays during Congress. Group tours are also possible on Wednesdays. For more information, visit www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Page-Program.
Trine
Approved by Indiana Section PGA Katherine “Kat” Benson, dean of Trine University's Kettner School of Business, received the Bill Strausbaugh Award in February. This award is presented to a PGA member whose accomplishments in club relations have led to dramatic improvements in employment conditions in their local division and at the PGA of America.
Brandon PodgorskiA faculty member and director of Trine's Sports Research Center, he was named Visionary of the Year by the Northeast Indiana Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). He is leading a fundraiser until May 9 to support people battling blood cancer and their families. If Podgorski's team reaches its $50,000 goal, their name will be associated with an LLS-funded research portfolio and their efforts will be recognized. For more information, visit pages.lls.org/voy/in/nein24/bpodgorski.
warsaw
The Warsaw Community High School Environmental Thon team advanced to state by placing first and second at the Northeast Regional Environmental Thon competition held in Columbia City last month. Envirothon is an academic competition in which teams of five work together to answer questions in the areas of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and current events. This year's theme is renewable energy. The 1st place team is made up of 2nd year students. Titiksha GorheSenior elizabeth osborneSenior bronwyn harrisonjunior sydney clarke and senior Caleb Oakman. 2nd place is 2nd year team Claire Templejunior evan handSenior Payten Irvinejunior griffin law and a new student kevin goff. Emily Gough He coached both teams.
