MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula Publishers & Authors Association has announced the eighth annual Dandelion Cottage Award winners, accortding to an organization press release.

The award recognizes U.P. student short story writers for excellence in grades 5-12.

The Dandelion Cottage Award is funded entirely by charitable donations and no fees have ever been charged to entrants or winners.

Students submit stories in consultation with their teachers. The contest now includes honors for first-, second-, and third-place winners in both the senior and junior divisions.

The contest is chaired by Larry Buege of Marquette, a UPPAA board member and author of the popular Chogan series for middle-grade readers.

This year’s winners span the U.P. from DeTour to the Copper Country.

In the senior division (grades 9-12), first place was awarded to Addison Hoffstrom, sophomore at Gwinn High School, for her story “Birth of the Wind” (sponsor Heather Hollands). The award includes a medallion, the winner’s name on a traveling school trophy, and a $250 cash prize.

Second place was awarded to Grace Dee, sophomore at Calumet High School, for her story “Skies” (sponsor Julie Antilla) accompanied by a medallion and $100 prize.

A medallion and prize money of $50 goes to third-place winner Gabrielle O’Connor, senior at Copper Country Christian School in Chassell for her story “The Traveler’s Son” (sponsor Judy Chizek).

The junior division features U.P. writers in grades 5-8. Kya Gleason (grade 7) of the DeTour Arts and Technology Academy won first place for her story “Starlight,” (sponsor Jennifer Livingston) which confers a $150 prize.

Gwenyth Skoog (grade 7) at Washington Middle School in Calumet won second place for her story “Breaking B-3” (sponsor Callie Rastello) which includes a $75 prize.

Jemmalee Maleport (grade 8) in Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe school (sponsor Aaron Litzner) took third place for her story “The Summer in June” with a $25 prize.

This year, more than 50 participants came from 20 U.P. schools, including Whitefish Township, Houghton, Ironwood, Munising, Ishpeming and Mackinac Island just to name a few.

For more information about the annual Dandelion Cottage short story contest, visit www.DandelionCottage.org which features the full text of stories from the previous seven years of contests.

Volkman recommends the Young Writers Storytelling Workshop for students wishing to improve their writing craft.

For details about this May 17 event held at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette, visit www.storytellingworkshop.org.

The workshop is led by children’s educator Rehema Clarken, Ph.D. of Hancock and this year’s event features a new breakout structure so students can personalize the experience to their needs.

Enrollment is limited to the first 25 applicants and will begin on March 20. Some need-based scholarships will be available.

U.P. Reader Volume #9 depicts a moose. Each of the stories will appear in the upcoming ninth volume of U.P. Reader, UPPAA’s annual literary anthology featuring short stories, poetry and essays by its members.

This successful publication helps spread the word about the organization, raise money for educational programming and encourages people in the region and beyond to read U.P. writers.

Complimentary copies of the U.P. Reader are available to all U.P. educators and media for the asking.

The on-sale date is scheduled for April 15. Consult your local bookseller for availability or purchase at Amazon.

For more information, visit www.UPReader.org.

The awards will also be celebrated at the 27th annual UPPAA Conference at the Peter White Library in Marquette on May 17.