Celebrating the 2025 Young Authors Contest Winners
Altrusa Tucson is proud to announce the 2025 Young Authors Contest winners! This year, students across Tucson submitted original stories and poems, showcasing their creativity and storytelling skills. Winning entries will be published in an official contest anthology, with copies donated to their school libraries.
These young writers will be honored on March 15 at the Tucson Festival of Books, where they will receive their awards on stage.
Congratulations to the 2025 Young Authors Contest Winners!
Elementary School Winners:
- Yunde Chan, second grade, Basis
- Jaden Li, third grade, Basis
- Emilio Gomez, third grade, Manzo Elementary
- Ava Timsina, fourth grade, Basis
- Grace Braun, fourth grade, Canyon View
- Lily Poke, fourth grade, home school
- Yunming Ray Chan, fifth grade, Basis Tucson North
- Parker Hasting, fifth grade, home school
- Caleb Johnston, fifth grade, Tanque Verde Elementary
- Etai Jabari Martin, fifth grade, Miles Exploratory Learning Center
- Miriam Howell, fifth grade, Ironwood Elementary
Middle School Winners:
- Ella Taliaferro, sixth grade, Cross Middle School
- Jay Flach, seventh grade, home school
- Susanna Ricks, seventh grade, Basis Tucson North
- Gavin Schafer, eighth grade, Hermosa Montessori School
- Rita Cai, eighth grade, Basis Tucson North
- Elizabeth Harwood, eighth grade, Arizona Virtual Academy
- Jeni Timsina, eighth grade, Basis
High School Winners:
- Alyssa Lemire, tenth grade, Andrada Polytech
- Imelda Osborne, twelfth grade, Osborne Catholic Homeschool Academy
- Eve Jones, twelfth grade, Tanque Verde High School
This year’s contest had incredible participation from students across Tucson, and we are excited to celebrate their achievements at the Tucson Festival of Books on March 15.
Stay tuned for more details about the awards ceremony, and be sure to visit the Young Authors Contest booth at the festival to support the next generation of writers!