Dish-Houston

On Saturday, November 1 at 9 a.m., the Houston non-profit literacy organization, READ3Zero, will honor students nationwide at a memorable Luncheon and Book Signing event for this year’s winners of the “I Write” contest and celebrate the organization’s fifth anniversary.  The Awards Ceremony will offer individual recognition of each student author and illustrator followed by the Literacy Luncheon and Book Signing with keynote speaker, Neil Bush, chairman to the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, emceed by Deborah Duncan of Great Day Houston. 

“This year we will offer a majestic experience to our young authors at a luncheon specially created to commemorate their success,” said Melissa M. Williams, Children’s Author and Founder of READ3Zero. “For five years our foundation has helped young students become published authors, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the city of Houston, parents, literacy advocates, and more; the commitment we have for students and their development in reading and writing.”

The Editor’s Choice Recipient this year will read their short story or poem to the audience followed by a book signing in which all the authors and illustrators will sign their newly published books.

Founded in 2009 by children’s author and public speaker, Melissa M. Williams, READ3zero has embarked on a mission to help share aspects of the literacy and publishing world, influencing the lives of children to learn outside the classroom. One of the primary creative projects at READ3Zero is the annual short-story contest, which emphasizes the concept that reading and writing go hand in hand. Children are also allowed to submit drawings for the front and back cover of the book.

 “I’m excited about recognizing this outstanding group of students this fall. It’s amazing what can happen when the community rallies around our youth to encourage creativity and literacy,” said Williams.

 

This year's student honorees are:

Authors:

●      Aidan Perry, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Alyssa Reid, Creekwood Middle School / Humble ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Ana Guerra, Kinkaid School / Houston, Texas

●      Benjamin Carpenter, Sugar Land Middle School / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Chase Greer, Texas Tech University ISD

●      Chloe Williams, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Claire Jones, Homeschool / Houston, Texas

●      Collin Foley, Pottsgrove Middle School / Wortham ISD, Pottstown, Pennsylvania

●      Dakota Widenor, Wortham Middle School / Wortham ISD, Wortham, Texas

●      Daniel Hoang, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Douglas Taylor, CyFalls High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Emily Green, Aragon Middle School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Emma Appler, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania

●      Fiza Kuzhiyil, Rolling Ridge Elementary / Harbor Creek SD, Erie, Pennsylvania

●      Gabby Ebuh, Tanglewood Academy / Houston, Texas

●      Giselle Ebuh, Tanglewood Academy / Houston, Texas

●      Haaniya Mehrani, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Hailee Galeana, Benito Juarez Elementary / San Diego USD, San Diego, California

●      Hannah Manley, Homeschool / Schulenburg, Texas

●      Harrison Kummer, AGLA (Aveson Global Leadership Academy) / Altadena, CA

●      Izecke Noble, Hodges Bend Middle School / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Jack Green, Covenant Academy / Houston, Texas

●      Jaclyn Fleming, CyFalls High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Jade Lawson-Ho, Bunker Hill Elementary/ Spring Branch ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Jaelynn Bocala, Benito Juarez Elementary / San Diego USD, San Diego, California

●      Katherine Bacani, Sugar Land Middle School/ Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Keller Rivers, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Kurt Kauffman, Sugar Land Middle School / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Laetitia Guerin, Awty International School / Houston, Texas

●      Laury-Anne Pluviose, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania

●      Lindsey Kinane, Pearland High School / Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas

●      Marin Werner, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania

●      MaryEvyn Grace Cutshall, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Maya Geiss, Manlius Pebble Hill School / DeWitt, New York

●      Megan Taylor, CyRanch High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Michael (M.P.) Geiss, Manlius Pebble Hill School / DeWitt, New York

●      Micah Clayton, Burnett Junior High / Wylie ISD, Wylie, Texas

●      Morgan Kaufmann, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania

●      Morgan Reppert, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn,Pennsylvania

●      Mykaela Lawson-Ho, The Tenney School / Houston, Texas

●      Nathaniel Houck, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania

●      Nia Gallagher, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania

●      Richard Wu, Clear Lake High School / Clear Creek ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Samantha Bacani, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

●      Sarah Hall, Cypress Christian School / Houston, Texas

●      Sarah Young, CyFalls High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Shana Hunter, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania

●      Shannon Kummer, Sunland Christian School / Sylmar, CA

●      Shelley Buckley, Shoals Christian / Florence, Alabama

●      Simon Petty, The Tenney School / Houston, Texas

●      Sofia Bajwa, The Kinkaid School / Houston, Texas

●      Valeria Keuser, Awty International School / Houston, Texas

●      Yarely Perez, Benito Juarez Elementary / San Diego USD, San Diego, California

●      Yasmeen Feghali, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas

 Back Cover Artists

●      Eric Dargan II, Arnold Middle School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas

●      Jillian Barry, The Emery/Weiner School / Houston, Texas

●      Julia Fishkind, The Emery/Weiner School / Houston, Texas

●      Madison Stein, The Emery/Weiner School / Houston, Texas

Cover Artist

●      Elise Willsey, Harwood Junior High / Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Bedford, Texas

 

To learn more about READ3Zero CLICK HERE