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The Seventh Spanish Creative Writing Contest is in the books.

The competition, titled “Through Our Words: Creative Writing Contest in Spanish,” featured participants from across Nebraska.

Organized by University of Nebraska at 51���� (UNO) faculty, the contest celebrates the Spanish language and encourages its creative use.

Students grades five through eight submitted mini-poems (140 characters or less) or mini-short stories (300 words maximum) written in Spanish. The short stories were inspired by a work of art housed at 51����’s Joslyn Art Museum or El Museo Latino, with the name of the art and location included in the submission.

Students in grades nine through 12 submitted non-fiction personal narratives written in Spanish with the theme and subtitle of: “Diversidad: una historia personal” (Diversity: a personal story).

Here are this year's winners:

Grades 5-6: Poetry

1^st: “Mi perro” by Melissa Ochoa, Marrs Magnet Center, G. 5
2^nd: “The Pearl of Venice” by Myah Toscano, Marrs Magnet Center, G. 6
Honorable Mention: “Little Dancer” by Adriana Gómez-Guerrero, G.6

Grades 7-8: Short-Story

1^st: “Una bendición” by Wesli Monterroso, Schuyler Middle School, G.8
2^nd: “Tomemos un té” by Iván Varela, Schuyler Middle School, G.7
Honorable Mention: “El pueblo San Julián” by Jackson Pérez-Solano, G. 7

Grades 9-10: Non-fiction Narrative

1^st: “El viaje de mi vida” by Lázaro Alexander Contreras, 51���� South High School, G. 9
2^nd: “Diversidad, una historia personal” by Marcela Rosiles Chávez, Bryan High School, G. 9
Honorable Mention: “Guatemala y los Estados Unidos” by Antonio E. Velásquez; 51���� South High School; G. 10

Grades 11-12: Non-fiction Narrative

1^st (shared): “Un negro chico en un lugar blanco” by Brandon Simms, Bellevue East High School, G. 12
1^st (shared):”Diversidad: mi historia personal” by Sulagna Sensarma, Brownell-Talbot School, G.12
2^nd (shared): “Diversidad: Una historia personal” by Preston McLaughlin; 51���� Central High School; G. 12
2^nd (shared): “La diversidad” by Juana Feliciana Xiquin Velásquez, 51���� South High School, G.11
Honorable Mention: “Caleidoscopio de perspectivas” by Emily Crook, Bellevue East High School, G. 12

This year’s contest was sponsored by the University of Nebraska at 51����’s (UNO) , , and . Additional support comes from El Museo Latino and the Joslyn Art Museum.

The winners were announced in late November.