Old Creamery Theatre recognizes 11 area students

(From left): Receiving awards from the Old Creamery Theatre are Anders Lovstuen, Rebecca Anderson, Brenna Parker, Brynn Storhoff, Ciara Wedmann, Jensen Korsness, and Jorja Folkedahl. Not pictured are Hewitt Heier, Amelia Wadsworth, Hannah Arendt and Josie Tieskoetter.

Eleven students from Decorah, North Winneshiek and South Winneshiek have been honored for their creative stories chosen as award-winners in the Old Creamery Theatre's annual writing contest.

Each year the theatre's Young Audience Tour chooses student-written stories to include in its traveling performance.  This year area students wrote four of the seven award-winning stories set to music for the show.

Winning students were called to the stage to meet the actors, get their photos taken with the troupe, and receive certificates and gift cards to Barnes and Noble.

First place winners include Decorah sixth grader Rebecca Anderson for "True Hero," Decorah fifth grader Brenna Parker for "The Collection of Marbles" and South Winneshiek fifth grader Josie Tieskoetter for "The High Note."

Second place winners include North Winneshiek fifth grader Jensen Korsness for "Batter Clatter" and Decorah fifth graders Anders Lovstuen for "Fast" and Jorja Folkedahl for "The Bees Need Respect."  Third place winners include Decorah fifth graders Brynn Storhoff for "Stay True to Yourself" and Ciara Wedmann for "Sugar," and fourth graders Hannah Arendt for "The Miracle" and Amelia Wadsworth for "The Money Tree."
Honored for special recognition was North Winneshiek fifth grader Hewitt Heier for "The Two Crabs."

Anderson, Folkedahl, Wedmann, and Heier were further honored with their stories being featured on stage in this year's show, "Best Quest."

The theme for the writing contest is the statewide Character Counts education program's Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, cooperation, and caring.