MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula Publishers & Authors Association has announced the ninth-annual Dandelion Cottage Award winners.

The award recognizes U.P. student short story writers for excellence in fifth through 12th grades. 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 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.

The Copper Country dominates this year’s winners. In the senior division, ninth through 12th grades, first place will be awarded to Leah Johnson, a junior at Houghton High School, for her story “The Girl Who Fell From the Sky.” Her sponsor was Jessica Klein. The award includes a medallion, the winner’s name on a traveling school trophy, and a $250 cash prize. Second place will be awarded to Analise VerBerkmoes, a sophomore at Copper Country Christian School in Chassell, for her story “Pepper.” She was sponsored by Judie Chizek. She will receive a medallion and a $100 prize.

A medallion and prize money of $50 will go to third-place winner Colin Spencer, a freshman at Houghton High School, for his story “Revenge on the Reich.” His sponsor was also Jessica Klein.

The junior division featured U.P. writers in fifth through eighth grades. Genevieve Baker, a sixth grader at Washington Middle School in Calumet, won first place for her story “Tulipsville Terror.” Her sponsor was Amy Machiela. Baker earned a $150 prize.

Eighth grader Adele O’Neill of Houghton Middle School won second place for her story “Eggscape.” She was sponored by Jennifer Saaranen. O’Neill won a $75 prize.

Natalie Verbrigghe, a home schooled sixth grader, took third place for her story “The Diary of Penelope: A Passenger aboard the L.C. Waldo.” She was sponsored by Maria Verbrigghe and also won a $25 prize.

This year, more than 50 participants came from 11 different U.P. schools. This year’s 12 judges thanked every student who submitted their work. For more information about the annual Dandelion Cottage short story contest, go to www.DandelionCottage.org, which features the full text of stories from the previous eight years of contests.

Victor R. Volkman, UPPAA’s president, highly recommends the Young Writers Storytelling Workshop for students wishing to improve their writing craft. For details about this May 16 event at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette, go to www.storytellingworkshop.org.

The workshop is led by children’s educator Rehema Clarken, PhD., of Hancock, and this year’s event features a new breakout structure for students to personalize the experience to their needs. Enrollment is limited to the first 30 applicants and will end May 1. Need-based scholarships will be available.

Each of the honored stories will appear in the upcoming 10th 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 at no cost. The on-sale date is scheduled for May 1. Consult your local bookseller for availability or purchase at Amazon.

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

The awards will also be celebrated at the 28th-annual UPPAA Conference at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette on May 17.