This year CGS will send 16 students, 1st through 8th Grades, to the 31st Annual Young Authors’ Conference
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – It’s that time of year again and local schools in the Monroe-Randolph County area are gearing-up for the 2026 Young Authors’ Conference. This year the conference is being held in Sparta, Illinois at the Sparta Lincoln Elementary School on Saturday March 28. The school is located at 203 Dean Avenue in Sparta, IL. 62286.
Chester Grade School announced its 2026 Young Author Conference winners Tuesday February 3 at a morning ceremony at CGS. Pictured are the honorees. (Front row, left to right) Kru Jany 1st Grade, Sebastian, 1st Grade, Prudence Webb, 2nd Grade, Aspen Rush, 2nd Grade, Zander Martin, 3rd Grade, Presley Braun, 3rd Grade, Karson Hecht, 4th Grade, and Oaklynn Wallace, 4th Grade. (Back row left to right) Janiyah Logan, 5th Grade, Joaquin Rafael, 5th Grade, Sophia Bogard, 6th Grade, Myah Ordonez, 6th Grade, Payton Stauffer, 7th Grade, Carter Davitz, 7th Grade, Jordyn Cowell, 8th Grade, and Mabrie Cushman, 8th Grade. These 16 grade level winners (2 from each grade) will attend the 31st Annual Young Author Conference Saturday March 28 at Sparta Lincoln Elementary School in Sparta, Illinois. Jim Beers Photo
This year’s theme is, “Planting the seeds of Kindness”. This theme has hopefully helped to guide participating teachers and students in the writing of their compositions and to help foster a very special day for all at the conference.
For those not familiar with this decades-old event, the Monroe-Randolph County Young Authors’ Conference is a celebration of the written compositions, or books, of children in Kindergarten through 8th grades. The purpose of the event helps to support classroom teachers in their efforts to encourage and improve students’ abilities in writing, reading, listening, and sharing their compositions and to recognize and appreciate the works and accomplishments of their fellow students.
All children in Kindergarten through 8th grades are encouraged to participate in the program. This includes those in special school learning programs. Angie Bueltemann, Monroe-Randolph County Regional Office of Education said, “Some schools make it a requirement to participate in this program while others make it a voluntary or optional program.”
Bueltemann further noted, “In the spring, Young Authors are selected by the schools in their districts and those winners are invited to attend the Annual Young Authors’ Conference which is a one-day event. At this event their compositions or books, are displayed and affixed with the official seal of the Monroe-Randolph County Regional Office of Education.”
“The Young Authors’ Conference emphasizes language as a vehicle for communication with others. Participants at the conference meet in small groups where they are encouraged to share their ideas about writing with a noted children’s author, educators, and other fellow Young Authors.”
Guidelines for the conference include the following: 1) The program should be available to all students in Kindergarten through 8th Grades regarding of ages and ability levels. 2) It is the responsibility of the local schools to select the winners or participants. Selection criteria should reflect the principles of the authoring cycle, growth, and development in the writing process and represent the best efforts of the students. 3) Each district may select three young authors per 100 students in an attendance center or school. 4) Each district must notify the eligible participants and inform them of registration procedures. Information packets are made available and sent to contact persons who will assure distribution to participating students and their parents. 5) Written compositions or “books” that are authored or illustrated by more than two students will NOT be accepted. 6) Dictated books or compositions may be either typed or handwritten by an adult, but must be in the students own language. 7) Manuscripts must have a cover with pages securely attached. Also a manuscript identification card MUST be secured on the inside of the cover of each manuscript.
Nonpublic school children are also eligible to participate at a rate of three students per 100 students enrolled in grades K-8. The chief administrator of that institution must verify the appropriate number of students in that school. Furthermore, home-schooled children are able to participate through the local school district.
Kasi Jany is the Reading Specialist at Chester Grade School and serves as the coordinator for CGS. Mrs. Jany said, “I am so excited for our students who were selected to represent CGS at the 31st Annual Young Authors’ Conference. The Young Authors’ Conference is a wonderful and fun experience. Students will have the opportunity to listen to a children’s book author and learn more about the writing process. It is truly going to be an awesome day!”
Mrs. Jany stated that participation in the program at Chester Grade School it was optional in some classes if students wanted to participate in the 2026 program and in other classes it was mandatory for all students to take part in the program.
All participants who were selected to attend the 2026 Young Authors’ Conference will receive an official conference T-shirt. All participating districts or nonpublic schools must provide at least one volunteer. Group presenters are also needed to conduct student small group sessions. Volunteers can be teachers or community members that can share their knowledge and know-how. Volunteers are further needed to assist with registration, food and drinks.
Chester Grade School has selected two students from each grade level, 1st through 8th grades for a total of 16 honorees. Those students and their grade levels and titles of their compositions, or books, are listed here.
Grade Level-Student’s Name-Book Title
1st Grade: Kru Jany “Strawberry’s First Day”
1st Grade: Sebastian Martin “Sunny’s Adventure”
2nd Grade: Prudence Webb “Doodle and Dottie”
2nd Grade: Aspen Rush “The Snow Day”
3rd Grade: Zander Martin “The Robot Kid”
3rd Grade: Presley Braun “Jade’s Dream”
4th Grade: Karson Hecht “The Adventure of the Kind Apple”
4th Grade: Oaklynn Wallace “Meet My Nephew”
5th Grade: Janiya Logan “You Call it Living, I call it Surviving”
5th Grade: Joaquin Rafael “One Door & Many More”
6th Grade: Sophia Bogard “Spy 101”
6th Grade: Myah Ordonez “The Chase”
7th Grade: Payton Stauffer “The Unexpected Visitor”
7th Grade: Carter Davitz “Stuck After School”
8th Grade: Jordyn Cowell “Yarn and Antlers”
8th Grade: Mabrie Cushman “The Fall of the Liberated”
Any questions regarding this year’s 31st Annual Young Authors’ Conference may be directed to:
Angie Bueltemann
Monroe-Randolph Regional Office of Education
134 N. Main Street
Red Bud, Illinois 62278
Phone: (618) 473-8945
Email: abueltemann@roe45.net