MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula Publishers & Authors Association has announced the winners of the seventh-annual Dandelion Cottage Award. The award recognizes U.P. student short story writers for excellence in grades fifth to 12th.

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.

In the senior division, for grades ninth to 12th, Houghton High School swept all three awards. This marks the second year running that the school has captured three wins.

Each of the HHS students was sponsored by teacher Jessica Klein. First place was awarded to Skye Isaacson, a freshman, for her story “The Birthday Party.” The award includes a medallion, the winner’s name on a traveling school trophy, and a $250 cash prize. Second place was awarded to freshman Miina Chopp for her story “Starved” accompanied by a medallion and $100 prize. A medallion and prize money of $50 will go to third-place winner and freshman Leah Johnson for her story “There Are No Happy Endings.”

In the junior division, for writers in grades five to eight, winners hailed from both the Keweenaw and the Soo. Eve Noble, an eighth-grader in Copper Country Christian School, won first place for her story “Despondent,” which confers a $150 prize. Isla Peterson, an eighth-grader in Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe PSA, will be awarded second place for her story “Echo,” which includes a $75 prize. Sponsor was Aaron Litzne. Analise Verberkmoes, an eighth-grader in the Copper Country Christian School, took third place for her story “Time Deprivation” with a $25 prize. Both Copper Country Christian School winners were sponsored by Judy Chizek and Erica Blasiola.

This year’s 32 participants came from six different U.P. schools, from Sault Ste. Marie to Houghton as well as the Marquette County. The judges would like to thank each and every student who submitted their work. For more information about the annual Dandelion Cottage short story contest, go to www.DandelionCottage.org.

Each of the honored stories will appear in the upcoming eighth volume of U.P. Reader, UPPAA’s own 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 Upper Peninsula 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 local booksellers for availability or the anthology can be purchased at Amazon.

For more information, go to www.UPReader.org.

The awards will also be celebrated at the 26th annual UPPAA Conference at the Peter White Library in Marquette on May 18.