DECATUR — Two Dowagiac teens were announced to be winners at a regional contest.

The Southwest Michigan Teen Creative Writing Challenge, a contest in which several local libraries partner to challenge teens to tap into their creative side, is set to award more than $1,600 in prizes to the 2019 winners. More than 90 submissions in the categories of fiction, poetry, comics and cover art were received by students in seventh through 12th grades between Feb. 1 and April 12. The judges’ decisions are in and the winners have been chosen.

The public is invited to the official awards ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at Cass District Library in Cassopolis. At that time, winners receive their monetary awards, a professionally printed book that includes their work and the opportunity to share excerpts of their writing.

Winners include:

Seventh to eighth grade fiction:

• First place — Charlie DeGraves, Lawrence

• Second place — Ilona Fiedorowicz, South Haven

• Third place — Katie Blomeke, Kalamazoo

Ninth to 10th grade fiction:

• First place — Andrew Quinones, Benton Harbor

• Second place — Martha Schaller, Dowagiac

• Third place — Miriam Gartland, Paw Paw

11th to 12th grade fiction:

• First place — Sophie Paquin, Lawton

• Second place — Megan Evans, Cassopolis

• Third place — Leo Rosales, Edwardsburg

Seventh to eight grade poetry:

• First place — Ginger Woodhams, Mattawan

• Second place — Leonard Kovacs-Baruah, Mattawan

• Third place — Charlie DeGraves, Lawrence

Ninth to 10th grade poetry:

• First place — Kelsee Sharp, Edwardsburg

• Second place — Martha Schaller, Dowagiac

• Third place — Andrew Quinones, Benton Harbor

11th to 12th grade poetry:

• First place — Joel Reynolds, Plainwell

• Second place — Caitlyn Haner, Mattawan

• Third place — Sophie Paquin, Lawton

Seventh to eighth grade comics:

• First place — Madisyn Williams, Dowagiac

• Seond place — Abygail Bulley, Bangor

Ninth to 10th grade comics:

• First place — Emalie Caley, Marcellus

• Second place — Miriam Gartland, Paw Paw

11th to 12th grade comics:

• First place — Megan Evans, Cassopolis

• Second place — Richard Barnes, Niles

Cover art:

• First place — Deana Perez, Hartford

• Second place — Patience Nadiya Davis, Covert

• Third place — Megan Evans, Cassopolis

Fiction judges were Rich Frantz, Jenny Phillips and Elaine Stephens. Poetry judges included Christine Heppermann and Ron Koertge. Jake Rhody, Kenjji Jumane-Mars and Paul Sizer judged comics. Leslie Helakoski, Tom Hageman and Patty Miller-Coy judged cover art.

The Southwest Teen Creative Writing Challenge is sponsored by Cass District Library, Dowagiac District Library, Hartford Public Library, Lawton Public Library, Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library, Paw Paw District Library, and Van Buren District Library. Additional support is made possible from the Friends of the Paw Paw District Library, Friends of the Antwerp Sunshine Library, Dowagiac Ladies Library Association, Friends of the Bloomingdale Branch Library, Friends of the Van Buren District Library, Friends of the Bangor Branch Library, and the Friends of the Lawrence Branch Library.

For updated information about related activities, look for Southwest Michigan Teen Creative Writing Challenge 2019 on Facebook, contact the nearest participating library or email info@vbdl.org.