Announcing the 2025-26 Young Author Winners!
Winners are listed in the following order:
Grade level, Genre, honor
Young Author's Name, Title of the entry
Teacher name, School, District
Kindergarten
Fiction
HM - Grant Chechuck - My Dinosaurs
Kendra Redding - Albin Elementary - Albin - Laramie #2
HM - Lucis Nelson - The Silly Dinosaur
Alexa Nelson - Homeschool
1st - Finlee Bell - The Royal Corgi
Esmeralda Cortez - Verda James Elementary - Casper - Natrona County #1
Non-Fiction
HM - Hannah Heinert - I Love Animals
Jessica Gray - Pine Bluffs Elementary - Pine Bluffs - Laramie #2
HM - Matthew Williams - Minnesota Facts
Ashley Williams - Verda James Elementary - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Evelina Moore - Ladybugs
Julie Rankin - Rozet Elementary - Rozet - Campbell County School District #1
Poetry
HM - Hansen Mast - I Love Everything
Krissy Brownlee - Truman Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Mary Teresa Long - The BLT of Animal Poetry
Elizabeth Long - Homeschool
1st - Ailyn Fouts - What I Like
Kayla Bonilla - Munger Mountain Elementary - Jackson - Teton #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Rowdy Norton - Super Wyatt
Julie Rankin - Rozet Elementary - Rozet - Campbell County School District #1
1st - Zachary Rainier - The Mystical Woods
Hilary Hays - Jackson Elementary - Jackson - Teton #1
1st Grade
Fiction
HM - Lainey Mullaney - My Mythical Creatures
Lindsey Newman - Truman Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Alberto Lopez - How I Got My Bunnies
Shannon Mellling - Stocktrail Elementary - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
1st - Renley Vasa - Snowy's Big Adventure
Jeana Slagowski - Northpark - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
Non-Fiction
HM - Natalia Arellano - The Seasons
Wendy Bournazian - Stagecoach - Rock Spring - Sweetwater #1
HM - Bristann Amadio - All About Pumpkins
Angela Ourth St. Anthony Tri-Parish - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Mariah K. Maxwell - Fascinating Facts About Elephants
Suzy Schaefer - Pioneer Park - Cheyenne - Laramie #1
Poetry
HM - Cole Fielding - Bear Poems
Sherin Olson - Alta Elementary - Alta - Teton #1
HM - Eva Cowley - Sweet Memories
Tina Theis - Heritage Christian School - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
1st - Dustin Ruppert - White Elephant and Other Poems From First Grade
Ginny Hansen - Albin Elementary - Albin - Laramie #2
Graphic Novel
HM - Blythe Morgan - Little Monster
Andrew Borcher - Westside Elementary - Powell - Park #1
HM - Evelyn Garner - A Legendary Book
Teacher Unlisted - Big Horn Elementary - Sheridan #1
1st - Atlas Wilson - The Dino Book
Michael Dragseth - Stocktrail Elementary - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
2nd Grade
Fiction
HM - Hannah Hultgren - The Adventures of Violet & Lily: The Time Machine
Missy Gernhart - Westside Elementary - Powell - Park #1
HM - Tessa Northrup - The Time the Puppy Crossed The Road
Stasia Tirrell - Truman Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
1st - Blair Bath - Dolly the Pug Spy
Amber Barrett - Burns Elementary - Burns - Laramie #2
Non-Fiction
HM - Natalie Newman - Gymnastics Life
Stasia Tirrell - Truman Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Joy Reekers - Trigger Thumb Free: My Trigger Thumb Release Surgery
Kelsi Koritnik - Westside Elementary - Powell - Park #1
1st - Baily Matthews - I Saw A Flower In Wyoming
Heidi Lloyd - North Elementary School - Evanston - Uinta #1
Poetry
HM - Ben Brownlee - Victory in All My Favorite Things
Stasia Tirrell - Truman Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Allison Tolman - My Wild Western Poems
Mrs. Cole - Clark Elementary - Clark - Park #1
1st - Lucynda Mariel Quiroz Guzman - My Poetry Book
Danielle Head - Albin Elementary - Albin - Laramie #2
Graphic Novel
HM - Kiera Rogers - The Wizard and the Dragon
Allison Hicks - Afton Elementary - Afton - Lincoln #2
1st - Allison Tolman - The Mystery of the Missing Yarn Ball
Mrs. Cole - Clark Elementary - Clark - Park #1
3rd Grade
Fiction
HM - Wynn Pedri - The Mythics
Mrs. West - Desert View - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
HM - Wesley Rainier - The Kid Who Could
Danny Maestas - Jackson Elementary - Jackson - Teton #1
1st - Nora Redden - Averi Collins & Friends: The Mystery of the Glass Ornament
Tricia Patterson - Monroe Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
Non-Fiction
HM - Karley Marshall - My Best Friend Has Four Legs
Kelly Druce - Sage - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
HM - Christopher Long - Grasshoppers
Elizabeth Long - Homeschool
1st - Isabel Chakola - Onam: A Harvest Festival
Ashley Ujvary - Summit Elementary - Casper - Natrona County #1
Poetry
HM - Paisley Lambert - Book of Life
Cali Stewart - Pine Bluffs Elementary - Pine Bluffs - Laramie #2
HM - Jaycie Hobbs - Imagination and Beyond
Lauren Thrash - Cokeville Elementary - Cokeville - Lincoln #2
1st - Branch Hardy - Wings of Power
Myriam Cherro - Stocktrail Elementary - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Mills Woodford - Frogzilla vs Godzilla
Navin Mahabir - Colter Elementary - Jackson - Teton #1
HM - Brayden Li - Dragons in the Mountain
Robin Walton - Uinta Meadow Elementary - Evanston - Uinta #1
1st - Zoey Jones - Adventure Friends
Sally Allen - Northpark - Sweetwater #1
4th Grade
Fiction
HM - Bostyn Jarvie - The Cheesball's Adventure
RaeLynn Froton & Brittany Bluemel - Pilot Butte - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
HM - Scarlett Wilde - A Girl's Mysterious Danger
Jill Sutherland - Pioneer Park - Cheyenne - Laramie #1
1st - Brooke Shelby - My Super Teacher
Amanda Gilbert - Paintbrush Elementary - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
Non-Fiction
HM - Greta Undeburg - It's Not Yacking at Sea
Kayla Newman - Wagonwheel Elementary School - Gillette - WY - Campbell County #1
HM - John Black - John Elway's Life as a Pro
Miranda French - Southside Elementary - Powell - Park #1
1st - Bode Pelletier - The Snake!!!!!
Bille Metzger - Munger Mountain Elementary - Jackson - Teton #1
Poetry
HM - Ryleigh White - Snows First Light to Startlight
Robyn Paul - Southside Elementary - Powell - Park #1
HM - London Welling - The Christmas Snowglobe
Annie Steiss - Truman Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
1st - Quincy Bowcut - Rainy Day Poems
Bailey Heide - Uinta Meadow Elementary - Evanston - Uinta #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Kayla Anderson - Pigerella
Dulce Alvarez - Uinta Meadow Elementary - Evanston - Uinta #1
HM - Zane Nord - Special S Versus Mad Men
Amber Johnson - Tongue River Elementary - Sheridan #1
1st - Grady Flint - I Survived the Texas Flood 2025
Ashley Pollick - 4-J Elementary - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
5th Grade
Fiction
HM - David Heinert - Red Oak Bow
Todd Thompson - Pine Bluffs Elementary - Pine Bluffs - Laramie #2
HM - Karley Clark - Trapped
Betty Hymas - Cokeville Elementary - Cokeville - Lincoln #2
1st - Macy Brown - The Sneezy Situation
Michelle Blake - Cottonwood Elementary - Casper - Natrona County #1
Non-Fiction
HM - Tim Gove - All Star
Justin Rowe - Etna Elementary - Etna - Lincoln #2
HM - Bennett Kirkbride - Locked In: Ranch Hand, Ball Handler
Britt Bath - Burns Elementary - Burns - Laramie #2
1st - Hunter Holland - The Golf Cart Incident
Evan Christensen - Wilson Elementary - Wilson - Teton #1
Poetry
HM - Sophie Floyd - Fresh Poems
Kate Rudolph - Jackson Hole Classical Academy - Jackson - Teton #1
HM - Nova Clark - Bittersweet Tomorrows
Katherine Gorski - Pioneer Park - Cheyenne - Laramie #1
1st - Bennett Pedri - My World in Words
Ashley Potter - Eastside - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Braizlee Pinter - The Adventures of Willow
Stacey Largent - Aspen Elementary - Evanston - Uinta #1
HM - Bayleigh Moon - The Dare
Jaime Olson - Truman Elementary - Green River - Sweetwater #2
1st - Duncan Cole - Thunder Paws Holiday Havoc!
Heather Harrington - Colter Elementary - Jackson - Teton #1
6th Grade
Fiction
HM - Mila Rosenbaum - Alex and Chestnut
Ashley McCoy & Noelle Clark - Poison Spider - Casper - Natrona County #1
HM - Laney Connally - Amelia Amesfort's Mysterious Disappearance
Stephanie Painter - Burns Elementary - Burns - Laramie #2
1st - Liv Oksanen - The Reindeer Confusion
Teacher Unlisted - Homeschool - Teton #1
Non-Fiction
HM - Hailey Engen - 5x5 Bull
Jeff Greenwood - Osmond Elementary - Afton - Lincoln #2
HM - Mason McWilliams - The High Country Dream
Kari Thornock - Glenrock Intermediate School - Glenrock - Converse County #2
1st - Iris Gutwein - Gravity Defyer
Jill Wright - Jackson Hole Middle School - Jackson - Teton #1
Poetry
HM - Rietta Kissack - Justice Poetry
Amity Kissack - Homeschool
HM - Nell Norton - Where Is Peace?
Michelle Rooks - Jackson Hole Middle School - Jackson - Teton #1
1st - Hayden Tietema - Poems Under The Tree
DeLina Horton - Powell Middle School - Powell - Park #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Eileen Gutierrez Castro - A Violin Virtuoso
Demita Jagoditsh - Pioneer Park - Cheyenne - Laramie #1
HM - Henrik Polson - The Story of a Mars Rover: The Newcomer
Koltin Legerski - Lincoln Middle School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
1st - Laney Connally - This Little Piggy Went to Paris
Stephanie Painter - Burns Elementary - Burns - Laramie #2
7th Grade
Fiction
HM - Makae Vozakis - A Lot Left
Samuel Symes - Davis Middle School - Evanston - Uinta #1
HM - Brycen Bullinger - The Tales of Segalia
Megan Bietz - Twin Spruce Junior High School - Gillette - Campbell County #1
1st - Madison Mitcheson - The Green House
Cheryl Croft - Lincoln Middle School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
Non-Fiction
HM - Ashlyn Swink - The Dancer
Emilee Baxendale - Powell Middle School - Powell - Park #1
HM - Eleonore Merriman - Corrie Ten Bloom, World War II Heroine
Heather Jaeckel - Johnson Junior High School - Cheyenne - Laramie #1
1st - Sophia Sturdivant - From Loss to Light
Kautzman - Rock Springs Junior High - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
Poetry
HM - Cyanne Phipps - Poems That Speak
Justin Waterworth - Powell Middle School - Powell - Park #1
HM - Mikaela D. Rahman-Rebaza - Emotions All Over the Place
Leah Corkery - Sage Valley Junior High - Campbell County School District #1
1st - Adalynn McBurnett - My Favorite Things
Jennifer Yetter - Rock Springs Junior High - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Jordan Rasmussen - The Magic Library
Stephanie Hepworth - Star Valley Middle School - Afton - Lincoln #2
HM - Kaynan Bitzan-Frias - Therapist Cheese
Shanel Wetzel - Dean Morgan Middle School - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Kylee Anderson - My Foreseeing Phone
Sam Symes - Davis Middle School - Evanston - Uinta #1
8th Grade
Fiction
HM - Alyssa Richards - Broken to Armed
Stephanie Hepworth - Star Valley Middle School - Afton - Lincoln #2
HM - Bella Hespen - The Road Ahead
Kacee Von Krosigk - Twin Spruce Junior High School - Gillette - Campbell County #1
1st - Paisley Petrow - Broken Record
Claire Wiley - Jackson Hole Middle School - Jackson - Teton #1
Non-Fiction
HM - Charlize Toole - Lost in December
Kacee Von Krosigk - Twin Spruce Junior High School - Gillette - Campbell County #1
HM - John Niglio - The Bald Eagle
Julie Fresquez - St. Anthony Tri-Parish - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Jonathan Long - The War Which Made the Roman World
Elizabeth Long - Homeschool
Poetry
HM - Nathaly Magana Rosas - Almost Was Enough
Cara Frantzen - Lincoln Middle School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Lena Estay - grrrls: a collection of poems about speaking up
Michelle Rooks - Jackson Hole Middle School - Jackson - Teton #1
1st - Karen Shreve - In The Hollow of the Wood
Justin Church - Powell Christian School - Powell - Park #1
Graphic Novel
1st - Lillian Martin - The History of Animation
Julie Fresquez - St. Anthony Tri-Parish - Casper - Natrona County #1
9th Grade
Fiction
HM - Aubrie Carter - Flesh
Jada Schaffer - Thunder Basin High School - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
HM - Tayven Nab - Wood Creek
Brianna Young - Natrona County High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Aniston Schwab - Banshees Cry
Stephanie Suloff - Star Valley High School - Afton - Lincoln #2
Non-Fiction
HM - Layla Gehrts - Second Coyote, Second Deer
JoEllen Varian - Powell High School - Powell - Park #1
HM - Braleigh Bentley - Guns, Gas, and Homefronts: The Many Frontiers of WW1
Heather Robinson - Rock Springs High School - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
1st - Kathryn Thorne - Beloved, Banned Books
Laura Martinovich - Kelly Walsh High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
Poetry
HM - Madelyn Knudsen - Childhood Interrupted
Aaron Dalton - Evanston High School - Evanston - Uinta #1
HM - Isabell Stillabower - Mavelence
Brianna Young - Natrona County High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Braeleigh Bentley - Lacrimae Miserorum et Desperatorum (Tears of the Miserable and Desperate)
Heather Robinson - Rock Springs High School - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Raela Kountz - Maya KinKaid, The Mustang Whisperer
Brianna Young - Natrona County High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Micah Wight - Nevada Dan and the Hidden Temple of Inda Jani
Bethany Wight - Heritage Christian School - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
10th Grade
Fiction
HM - Henry Lester - After Atlantis
Margaret Moses - Evanston High School - Evanston - Uinta #1
HM - Logan Tree - Belleau Wood
Kalin Schwab - Star Valley High School - Afton - Lincoln #2
1st - Kylee N Black - Falling From Safety
Jeremiah & Ashlee Black - Homeschool
Non-Fiction
HM - Brooke Horning - Wallace Herbert Kuhlman
JoEllen Varian - Powell High School - Powell - Park #1
HM - Max Dobson - Give Yourself A Reason
Daphne Vaughn - Midwest - Midwest - Natrona County #1
1st - Kaysen Sprute - The Ticking Clock
Teacher Unlisted - Cowboy State Virtual Academy - Sheridan #1
Poetry
HM - Taelynn Salway - Embracing Life
Daphne Vaughn - Midwest - Midwest - Natrona County #1
HM - Parker McDowell - Shower Thoughts
Jordan Droppert - Jackson Hole High School - Jackson - Teton #1
1st - Makinnen Heaps - The Road Home
Margaret Moses - Evanston High School - Evanston - Uinta #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Maggie McConigly - Amaryllis: God of Change
Brianna Young - Natrona County High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
1st - Grace Cameron - Stitched
Margaret Moses - Evanston High School - Evanston - Uinta #1
11th Grade
Fiction
HM - Nicole Handley - The Princess Whose Pants Fell Down
Kim & Jim Handley -Homeschool
HM - Braelyn Harris - Spellcasters
Ellie Davis - Rock Springs High School - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
1st - Symantha Hepworth - The Joy of Christmas
Stephanie Suloff - Star Valley High School - Afton - Lincoln #2
Non-Fiction
HM - Madelyn Thomas - The Importance of Time
Victoria Hemphill - Green River High School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Jenna Lowham - Steps Toward Exploration
Aimee Cogger - Evanston High School - Evanston - Uinta #1
1st - Ryan Collier - Frozen and Foggy Hell: The Story of the Aleutian Islands during WWII
Laura Martinovich - Kelly Walsh High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
Poetry
HM - Emma Johnson - Go Sports Team
Victoria Hemphill - Green River High School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Ali Harr - Advice to My Younger Self
Bethany Wight - Heritage Christian School - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
1st - Rachell Rodriguez - Beneath the Tides
Noah Hopkins - Rock Springs High School - Rock Springs - Sweetwater #1
Graphic Novel 1st - Amelia Gegelman - Scarlett
Bethany Wight - Heritage Christian School - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
12th Grade
Fiction
HM - Tanner Hokanson - The Ghouls of Graywell Castle
Victoria Hemphill - Green River High School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Henry McGuire - The Ravan's Shadow
Otty Farris - Central High School - Cheyenne - Laramie #1
1st - Taggart Ivie - The Shatterchilde
Kelly Fullmer - Star Valley High School - Afton - Lincoln #2
Non-Fiction
HM - Janeth Ramirez - The Canine Chase
Victoria Hemphill - Green River High School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Nikola Konisheva - Around Grandma's Voicemail
Margaret Moses - Evanston High School - Evanston - Uinta #1
1st - Sophia Jones - 10237 Oquirrh Lake Rd
Ellie Bolender - Natrona County High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
Poetry
HM - Natalie Brown - The Weight of What Remained
Emily Mitchell - Big Horn High School - Big Horn - Sheridan #1
HM - Serenity Anderson - Flame and Pain Poetry
Morgan Nodland - Thunder Basin High School - Gillette - Campbell County School District #1
1st - Kylie Wall - The One Who Stays
Brianna Young - Natrona County High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
Graphic Novel
HM - Alina Muething - Pulling Teath
Victoria Hemphill - Green River High School - Green River - Sweetwater #2
HM - Adelyn Christiansen - Rock, Paper, Scissors
Kalin Schwab - Star Valley High School - Afton- Lincoln #2
1st - Alayna Mellin - The Ark
Ellie Bolender - Natrona County High School - Casper - Natrona County #1
