2024
GRAND PRIZE | ELEMENTARY
Leela GHOSH – Whispers From the Waterfront – was in 4th grade at Alexander Montessori School.
Teacher: Ellen Kahn
Excerpt form the story
….. “Like any other normal day, I was walking by the water in Brickell Key, which is a tiny man-made island in Miami. I did this regularly every Sunday to feed the pigeons. I was standing on the ledge in front of the ocean, throwing the crumbs down at the pigeons when they all flew up around me, bombarding me with feathers. I lost my footing and fell onto the rocks below me. I tried to grab onto the ledge, but it was too far away now. I screamed for help, hoping someone would hear me, but over the commotion, no one could hear me. Nobody even turned around to see where my scream was coming from. My head was throbbing from hitting the rocks, and all the pigeons flew over me, dropping breadcrumbs on my head. The water was cold, and I could feel my clothes getting soggy and sticking to me. I felt as if I was a balloon that had just popped and was falling to the ground uselessly.
Then I heard a murmur. I thought maybe the same thing had happened to someone else. I went deeper to see what it was when I saw manatees discussing something that I could barely make out. I was surprised that manatees could talk but even more surprised that I could understand them.”
GRAND PRIZE | MIDDLE SCHOOL
Emilia RAMOS SAMPER – Paper Flowers – was in 8th grade at Palmer Trinity School.
Teacher: Emily Rolling
Excerpt and short video coming soon …..
GRAND PRIZE | HIGH SCHOOL
Patrick KEEDY BROWN – Deliver Us – was in 10th grade at Ransom Everglades School.
Teacher: Elizabeth Cornick
Excerpt from the story
…. “I am walking down a long hallway. Everything is dark, so dark I cannot see my hand outstretched in front of me, but I still know where to go. I know where I am. I come into the breakfast room, my hand knowing where to find the doorknob in the black. I can see the table, its bright wooden surface standing stark against the rest of the room. It’s the only thing I can see.
I instinctively take my seat, on the long side, opposite Elias’. The ridges are familiar to me, the shape of my body etching into the chair from years of habitual use.
I see the rest of the chairs empty. No, no, let me take the other chair. Papa’s chair. I creep over to the head of the table and sink myself into its imposing wooden frame. The chair feels too big for me, too old, too powerful. The minutes tick by. Perhaps they are hours.
On the other side of the table, the shadows begin to part like stage curtains opening. I see something, a cup, a large and ornate golden cup. It’s being held by a hand. I can see the bones through the near-translucent skin, the veins stark against the pale surface. It looks like the hand that belonged to my grandfather; old.
Against my will, I feel my legs unbending, and I begin to stand.”
LA PLUME POETRY AWARD
Katherine NUNEZ – Is This My Reality? – was in 9th grade at MCA academy.
Teacher: Christina Lantigua
Excerpt from the poem
We all start the same
Welcomed and tame.
The warmth that once held us has left us
The cold air washes over
And my journey has begun.
Unaware of what awaits me these bright lights pierce through me.
The rocky road home represents perfectly what I am to expect
Little did I know that that road home that drive back would be my future.
Every pothole, every bump, every turn, every stop. Accidents and anger ignite.
My story has just begun
Sitting in my bed confused
Staring through the wall
Cross-legged I realize my life has developed…
The little girl I used to be would be so happy to be me now.
The same little girl that always used to smile.
That little innocent being with no anger or enemy.
I sit reminiscing my past
Remembering that little girl
Have I disappointed her?
Thinking about the time when I felt safe
The time on those swings
I felt free
The wind flowing through my hair
The fresh air hitting my face
The feeling of flying
The soreness in my cheeks from smiling
The happiness in my eyes
Soaring through the air
Each push sending me higher
FIRST PLACE | ELEMENTARY
Alexandra SALADRIGAS – Free – was in 4th grade at St Philip’s Episcopal School.
Teacher: Travis Cooper
Excerpt from the story
—- “Her parents looked down at their feet. Maria knew they couldn’t control anything that was
happening, but her temper got the best of her. Again, she stormed up the stairs. She dumped
her bag and all its contents on the floor, and then filled her satchel to the brim with clothes.
Using the little room she had left, she stuck Pepito (the beloved and tattered stuffed duck she
couldn’t sleep without) in her bag, along with a few of her favorite books and the best picture
she had of her family. She carried it down to the kitchen and saw her parents holding similar,
overstuffed bags. Maria took one last look at her casita – the only home she had ever known.”
FIRST PLACE | MIDDLE SCHOOL
Sydney BARBA – The Cats POV – was in 7th grade at Barba Academy.
Excerpt from the story
…. “During the alterations in her quarters, Louise tries on the dress because she is about the same size as Madeleine Astor. All of a sudden there is screaming and doors slamming. People are rushing by our room, heading in one direction, which must be the way out. Louise grabs me and runs down the hall. Once we reach the deck, people are shoving us forward to get onto
lifeboats. The ship is not ok; this scratch is a huge tear and the Titanic is sinking. People are
confusing Louise for Madeleine Astor. Someone shouts and counts as sixty-four people load
onto the lifeboat. Someone shouts, “Sixty-five!” as they shove me into the boat and lower us
down to the water. Across, I see another boat being lowered down with Madeleine Astor and a
nurse. She was the young girl who had led us through the massive stateroom. Madeleine was
crying and holding her pregnant belly. It was late and cold, and soon enough, I was asleep in
Louise’s bag while we floated away from the sinking ship and sailed for help.”
FIRST PLACE | HIGH SCHOOL
Sophia ROMANOV IMBER – Katerina Never Was – was in 12th grade at Ransom Everglades School.
Teacher: Matthew Helmers
Excerpt and short video coming soon …..