Arts Council Announces Literary Contest Winners

LINCOLNTON––The Arts Council of Lincoln County has announced the winners of its annual writing contest.

For 39 years, the Robinson-Lineberger Literary Competition has been a big event among local lovers of literature. According to arts council representatives, the trustees of the late Flo Robinson’s estate established this competition to memorialize her lifelong interest in poetry and prose and to encourage writers to pursue excellence in their craft. And the estate of the late Robert Lineberger also added its support to ensure that this tradition continues to give a voice to so many members of the Lincoln County community.

An awards ceremony was recently held at the Lincoln Cultural Center.

In the adult poetry category, first, second and third-place winners were respectively Kristin Cathey, Sheldon Anderson and Melissa Peeler. Amanda Gilbert earned an honorable mention.

In adult prose, the first, second and third-place winners were respectively John Fortner, Erin Rohrer and Cindy Ballard. Susan Harris earned an honorable mention.

At the high school level for poetry, taking first and second-place honors were respectively Isabella Green and Madison Aliano, both of North Lincoln High. Ethan Vaughan of Lincolnton High won third place, and Owen Cornwell of Lincoln Charter got an honorable mention.

At the high school level for prose, North Lincoln swept first, second and third-place honors respectively, with Caitlyn Breslin, Addison Geiger and Kristy Gomez. Quentin Payseur of Lincoln Charter earned an honorable mention.

At the middle school level for poetry, Isabella Dodd of North Lincoln earned first-place honors. Thomas Winebarger of West Lincoln took home second-place honors. Bradley Barash of East Lincoln, Zoë Adams of North Lincoln and Izzy Fisher of East Lincoln respectively earned citations for third place and two honorable mentions.

At the middle school level for prose, Olivia Sheridan of East Lincoln won first place. Payten Neal and Riley Ortiz, both of Lincolnton High, were respectively second and third. Scarlett Pattison of East Lincoln got an honorable mention.

And at the elementary school level for poetry, Ava Szymanski of Lincoln Charter won first place. Kenzleigh Franklin of Love Memorial won second. And Ashleigh Longpré of Catawba Springs won third. Easton Hegler of Long Shoals Wesleyan Academy won an honorable mention.

And at the elementary level for prose, Collins Elmore of Rock Springs won first-place honors. Caroline Harris and Harrison Grooms, both of Norris Childers Elementary, respectively won second and third-place honors. And Hadlee Brewer of Catawba Springs and Peighton McQueen, respectively of Catawba Springs and Rock Springs elementaries, both won honorable mentions.

Congratulations to you all!