The winners of the 2018 Writers Competition at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library were recognized Saturday in a ceremony that also saw a name change for the 29-year-old contest to honor a former library director, the competition’s founder.
At its April meeting, the Library Board of Trustees requested that the name be changed to the Julie Meier Writers Competition.
Serving as library director from 1981 to 2004, Meier created the Writers Competition in 1989 to reward writing excellence, to encourage area residents – especially children – to writes, and, in her words, “to discover talented writers in our midst.”
Julie Meir passed away this year on April 12.
Cash prizes for Writers Competition were originally funded by Hecla Mining. In recent years prizes have been funded by grants from the Coeur d’Alene Kiwanis Club and the Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
All entries in the competition are placed in professionally bound books that are added to the library’s collection as non-circulating items. The collection of bound entries going back to 1989 can be found in the library’s Nelson History Room.
For 2018 the competition underwent two major changes. The fee to enter the competition was eliminated and the age groups were changed to reflect school grade levels for non-adult competitors.
The winners for 2018 in the Julie Meier Writers Competition and their entries are:
* Grades K-2 Fiction/Nonfiction: First, Mikayla Moore, Athol , “Animal World: Big Cats;” Second    Maren Larson, Coeur d’Alene, “The Moon;” and Third, Aubrey Keinert, Priest River, “Bunny and the Bear.”
* Grades 3-5 Nonfiction: First, Trent Roberts, Spirit Lake, “A Different Kind of Christmas;” Second, Alexander Beresford-Wood, Post Falls, “My Essay on the Best Dad on Earth;” and Third, Gabrielle Hill, Coeur d’Alene, “Pocahontas’ Impact on American History.”
* Grades 6-8 Nonfiction: First, Jane Robinette, Otis Orchards, Wash., “The Wonderful World of Books;” Second, Samantha Hayes, Post Falls, “Careless Consumptions;” and Third, Sophie Nungesser, Post Falls, “Should There be Tougher Punishments for Bullying?”
* Grades 9-12 Nonfiction: First, Isaiah Harrison, Coeur d’Alene, “The Pain Game;” Second, Isaac Harrison, Coeur d’Alene, “The Dark and Silent Place;” Third, Peyton Jerome, Coeur d’Alene, “PTSD in the Ancient World.”
* Adult Nonfiction: First, Victoria Collins, Coeur d’Alene, “When Time Stands Still;” Second , Brenda Bergelin, Coeur d’Alene, “At Fifty-Four;” Third, Sherry Groeschl, Coeur d’Alene, “One Call Away.”
* Grades 3-5 Fiction: First, Zachery Linford, Coeur d’Alene, “Am I a Turtle or a Tortoise?” Third, Verity Zichek, and Hauser, “Cemetery Sojourn;” Second, Alyssa Harrison, Coeur d’Alene, “The Tale of Louis and the Moonlight.”
* Grades 6-8 Fiction: First, Lillian Syren, Coeur d’Alene, “Refuge in the Wilderness;” Second, Emma Crownhart, Liberty Lake, Wash., “The Princes’ Game;” Third, Mercedesz Juhasz, Post Falls, “Euphoria.”
* Grades 9-12 Fiction:  First, Lyssa Bivens, Spirit Lake, “Rainbow Trout;” Second, Jessica Gates, Hayden, “Sirens of War;” Third, Samuel Cuentas, Post Falls, “A Moment Before Chaos.”
* Adult Fiction: First, Rebecca Crouse, Rathdrum, “Her Footsteps Linger;” Second, Angela Gates, Hayden, “Snow Falling White;” Third, Kevin Zirker, Post Falls, “Postical.”