WQED Brings Multitude of Events to Arts Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 30, 2013

CONTACT: George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366 ghazimanolis@wqed.org


Maria Pisano
412-622-1459 mpisano@wqed.org

WQED TO DRAW MAJOR CROWD TO THE THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL

PITTSBURGH – WQED Pittsburgh will have a major presence at this year’s Three Rivers Arts
Festival.  iQ Kids Radio will bring a multitude of events to the festival and Classical WQED-FM
89.3 will broadcast live from the festival on June 10 and will also provide highlights from the
Festival during its ten-day run.

On June 10 at 1 and 5 p.m. the Dollar Bank Stage will be the site of performances by the winners from WQED-FM’s Musical Kids classical music competition: Rebecca Chen, Joey Comella, Suvir Merchandani, Nathan Pallotta, Fiona Stauffer, and Lily Wang.  Also that day, the internationally recognized Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will perform on the Dollar Bank Stage at 7 p.m.

iQ Kids Radio, a new web-based radio station that streams every Saturday at iqkidsradio.org, will host numerous events on June 15 and 16 at the Family Stage in the Giant Eagle Creativity Zone.  On both June 15 and 16 at 4 p.m. award-winning children’s artist Kira Willey will perform her acoustic themed songs so that kids can sing along.  After each performance, Kira will sign autographs, with iQ Kids Members getting top priority to meet her.

iQ Kids Radio will also host two themed dance parties over the weekend.  The first is the Sand and Surf Dance Party on June 15 and 16 at noon, which will feature music that will make anyone want to come down and boogey (board).  The second dance party, the Jungle Animals themed dance, is on June 15 at 3 p.m. and is guaranteed to have everyone in attendance monkeying around.  At 1:30 p.m. on June 15, the Pittsburgh Puppet Works will perform “Recipe for a Clue” a play based finalists’ stories from PBS Kids Go! Writer’s Contest.  Finally, local singers and songwriters will put on an acoustic performance for kids on Sunday called AcoustiKids.

Below is the complete schedule of WQED activities:

Monday, June 10 (Classical Music Day)

1:00-1:30 p.m. and 5:00-5:30 p.m — Winners from the Musical Kids classical music competition will perform on the Dollar Bank Stage.

7:00-8:30 p.m. — WQED-FM 89.3 will broadcast the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Live from the Dollar Bank Stage.

Saturday, June 15

12-1 p.m. — The waves are high for this iQ Kids Radio Dance party at the Family Stage!

1:30-2:30 p.m.—Come to the Family Stage to see the Pittsburgh Puppet Works put on “Recipe for a Clue,” based on stories created by finalists of the PBS Kids Go! Writer’s Contest.

3-4 p.m. — Join us for a roarin’ good time at the iQ Kids Radio Jungle Animals themed dance party at the Family Stage!

4-5 p.m.—Kira Willey will perform acoustic, feel-great music on the Family Stage presented by iQ Kids Radio.

5-6 p.m. — iQ Kids Club members will have an opportunity to meet Kira Willey and get her autograph.  Also, feel free to bring a blanket and some food for a picnic after the show.

Sunday, June 16

12-1 p.m. — The waves are high for this iQ Kids Radio Dance party at the Family Stage!

1-2 p.m. and 4-5 p.m.—Kira Willey will perform acoustic, feel-great music on the Family Stage presented by iQ Kids Radio.

5-6 p.m. — iQ Kids Club members will have an opportunity to meet Kira Willey and get her autograph.  Also, feel free to bring a blanket and some food for a picnic after the show.

2-4 p.m. — Come enjoy music by the best new singer-songwriters in Pittsburgh during
AcoustiKids at the Family Stage.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest Announces Local Winners

May 4, 2013                                                                                      
CONTACT:    Maria Pisano,   mpisano@wqed.org, 412-622-1459

TRI-STATE STUDENTS HONORED IN
WQED PITTSBURGH PBS KIDS GO! WRITERS CONTEST

-- Local First Place Winners will Enter National Contest to be Judged This Summer --

PITTSBURGH – WQED Pittsburgh is proud to announce local winners for the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest sponsored by EQT Corporation. All first place winners will be entered into the national PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, where they will compete against other winners from across the country. WQED was one of 12 public television stations across the country that participated in this year’s contest.  WQED partnered locally with Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU) which serves central Pennsylvania and West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) which serves West Virginia statewide.

For the first time this year WQED introduced an online voting portal and invited the public to view and listen to finalists read their stories aloud and choose the Kid’s Choice Award. The winner of the 2013 Kid’s Choice Award was If I Ran the Circus by Griffin Snowberger of Martinsburg, PA with 816 votes. All of the winners’ stories may be viewed and heard at writeonkids.org.

WQED Headquarters in Oakland

All finalists were invited to WQED’s Fred Rogers Studio in Oakland May 4 to celebrate their efforts. Twenty-two 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention winners had the opportunity to see their stories turned into a puppet play called “Recipe For A Clue” created and performed by Pittsburgh Puppet Works and could even get their face painted. Children in Kindergarten, grades 1, 2 and 3 submitted over 1,600 stories this year.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is produced annually by PBS KIDS and managed and created by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto, and is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages two to eight.  More information on PBS KIDS Raising Readers and the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest can be found at pbskids.org/read.
 
KINDERGARTEN
First Place: Vic the Chick by Caitlin Joyce of Pittsburgh, PA
Second Place: Shiney Dolphin and Cutey Cat Play All Day by Savana Libecco of Rimbersburg, PA
Third Place: Brave Animals on the Farm by Rakshitha Murugan of Oakdale, PA

Honorable Mentions
• Too Fancy, Miss Mouse! by Chloe McGee of Mt. Lebanon, PA
• Princess Lila’s Adventure by Ava Zalewski of Latrobe, PA

FIRST GRADE
First Place: Little Possom’s Big Adventure by Cricket Branstrom of Russell, PA
Second Place: The Adventures of Me and My Dog Gizmo by Sophia Klonowski of Grove City, PA
Third Place: Mr. Meask, Beak, and the Little Bird by Ava Pacheco of Pittsburgh, PA

Honorable Mentions
• The Three Shark Detectives and the Missing Clownfish by Alexander Smaroff of Bethel Park, PA
• If I Ran the Circus by Griffin Snowberger of Martinsburg, PA
• Dan’s Exciting Night by Tharun Sunthar of Wexford, PA

SECOND GRADE
First Place: Willie and Hannah by Haruka Doi of Pittsburgh, PA
Second Place: A Snake Tale by Liam Ellis of Sewickley, PA
Third Place:  The Lonely Tractor by Alyssa Hunt of Somerset, PA

Honorable Mentions
• Jamaica by Mia Lynch of Pittsburgh, PA
• Planet Gumdrop by Jack Sabo of Bridgeville, PA
• Scooter’s Dig Through Time by Rebecca Walter of Carnegie, PA

THIRD GRADE
First Place: BFF’s Forever by Marlana Howard of Pittsburgh, PA
Second Place: The Soccer Sleuth and the Missing Playbook by Keller Dorgan of Edgewood, PA
Third Place: Bloggermouth 360 by Kaylie Heming of Johnstown, PA

Honorable Mentions
• The Case of the Missing Peacocks by Isabella Penrose of North Huntington, PA
• Nita Lite’s Crash by Lizzy Sultz of Uniontown, PA
• Little Red Agent Hood by Cayden Wright of Roaring Spring, PA

About WQED Pittsburgh
WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster.  The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).

About EQT Corporation
EQT Corporation is an integrated energy company with emphasis on Appalachian area natural gas production, gathering, transmission, and distribution. EQT is the general partner and majority equity owner of EQT Midstream Partners, LP.  With more than 120 years of experience, EQT continues to be a leader in the use of advanced horizontal drilling technology – designed to minimize the potential impact of drilling-related activities and reduce the overall environmental footprint. Through safe and responsible operations, the Company is committed to meeting the country’s growing demand for clean-burning energy, while continuing to provide a rewarding workplace and enrich the communities where its employees live and work. Company shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange as EQT. Visit EQT Corporation at www.EQT.com.

About Penn State Public Broadcasting
Penn State Public Broadcasting serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. Its public media services produce, acquire and distribute programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.

About West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia Public Broadcasting nurtures personal growth, promotes civic responsibility and inspires lifelong discovery through high-quality programming and services. West Virginia Public Radio, West Virginia PBS, wvpubcast.org and Ready To Learn® are all services of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a 501(c)3 organization responsible for receiving donated funds from individuals for annual membership to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Friends serve as ambassadors in their communities on behalf of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

All of the licenses for West Virginia Public Broadcasting are held by the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, Kay Goodwin, Secretary.

About Saturday Light Brigade
SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (SLB) uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth and families. SLB believes in radio and audio because these technologies enable a sense of intimacy, engagement and self-directed imagination that is often lacking in other media, while also promoting opportunities for privacy (given that children need not be photographed), equal access (audio has fewer barriers for participation than other media), and sharpening of important life skills (i.e., speaking and listening, imagination, creative expression, and critical thinking, respect for others, confidence and cooperation, and technical curiosity).

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online, mobile and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including the PBS KIDS video player, now offering free streaming video accessible on computer- and mobile-device-based browsers. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About Easy Student Publishing
Meet writing standards and motivate students using book-making tools and resources from Easy Student Publishing.  With Classbook and Storybook options, free programs, online or mail-in production and expert resources, we have publishing solutions designed for educators.  Enhance curriculum, support literacy and promote creativity.  Every student can be a published author!

About Highlights for Children, Inc. (www.Highlights.com)
Devoted to "Fun with a Purpose," family media brand Highlights for Children, Inc. has helped children become their best selves for generations. Its flagship publication, Highlights magazine, the most recognizable and widely read children's magazine in the nation, has printed more than a billion copies. Other Highlights offerings include a version for younger children, High Five magazine; a new magazine for babies and their caregivers, Highlights Hello magazine; Highlights for Children book clubs; and mobile applications like My First Hidden Pictures. Highlights can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at its blog for thoughtful parents, Highlights Aha. Corporate offices are in Columbus, Ohio, and editorial offices are in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Fun with a Purpose, Goofus and Gallant, and Hidden Pictures are trademarks of Highlights for Children, Inc.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest

WQED PITTSBURGH ANNOUNCES ANNUAL PBS KIDS GO! WRITERS CONTEST 

Pittsburgh Area Kids in Grades K-3 Encouraged to Submit Original Stories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 January 10, 2013

 

CONTACT:

 George Hazimanolis

 412-622-1366

 ghazimanolis@wqed.org

 

Maria Pisano

 412-622-1459

 mpisano@wqed.org

 

WQED PITTSBURGH ANNOUNCES ANNUAL PBS KIDS GO! WRITERS CONTEST 

Pittsburgh Area Kids in Grades K-3 Encouraged to Submit Original Stories

 

PITTSBURGH – Today, WQED announced its annual PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. Also partnering with WQED this year are Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU) which serves central Pennsylvania and West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB). The Contest, made possible by financial support from EQT Corporation, encourages children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity by submitting their own original stories and illustrations.

 

“WQED is committed to providing fun opportunities for Pittsburgh-area kids to express their creativity,” said Deborah L. Acklin, President and CEO, WQED. “The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest helps children across southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond to build valuable literacy skills for success in school and life.”

 

How the Contest Works

Beginning January 14, 2013, children in southwestern and central Pennsylvania, as well as throughout West Virginia, can submit their entries to the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. WQED will select local winners and award prizes, including the opportunity to record their winning story to be broadcast on Saturday Light Brigade (SLB) Radio in the spring of 2013.

 

WQED will send its list of winners to the national contest where a panel of esteemed judges will rank the top 12 entries. National winners will be announced during the summer of 2013 and the winning stories will be featured on pbskids.org/writerscontest.

 

The national winners will receive prizes, including tablets, e-readers and MP3 players. Additionally, Highlights for Children has joined the Contest as a new promotional partner and all participants will have the option to receive a print or digital version of Highlights magazine. In 2012, two students from WQED’s regional contest were recognized as 2nd place winners in the national Contest. To learn more about these and all of WQED’s past winners click here.

 

Contest Kick-Off Events

 WQED will host several kick-off events for the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest in January:

 

• Wednesday, January 16

 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

 Squirrel Hill Carnegie Library

 5801 Forbes Avenue

 Pittsburgh, PA 15217

 100 students from Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 and St. Edmund’s Academy will join their teachers and the public for: a video expose from the 2012 contest winners; story teller Sydell Pearl; PBS costume character Curious George; and eight literacy learning stations.

 

• Wednesday, January 30

 10 a.m. – Noon

 Hill District Carnegie Library

 2177 Centre Avenue

 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

 80 students from Pittsburgh Weil PreK-8 will join their teachers and the public for: a video expose from the 2012 contest winners; story teller Sydell Pearl; PBS costume character; and eight literacy learning stations.

 

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Honorary Judges

 A panel of America's foremost children's authors, illustrators and content experts will serve as honorary judges for the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest. The 2013 honorary judges include:

 

• Lisa Henson: As Chief Executive Officer of The Jim Henson Company, Henson serves as an executive producer of Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Train, both currently airing daily on PBS KIDS, and Pajanimals, a musical puppet series airing daily on Sprout.

 

• Jeff Kinney: As a New York Times bestselling author, online game developer and designer, Kinney has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. His seventh book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel, is the biggest print book of 2012. His book series has over 83 million in print worldwide, translated into more than 40 languages. He spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to New England in 1995. Jeff lives in southern Massachusetts with his wife and their two sons.

 

• Kate Klimo: As Vice President and Publisher of the Random House/Golden Books Group, she has been responsible for extending the Seuss brand into new formats including board and novelty books, and publishing non-fiction celebrations of Dr. Seuss's life and works. Klimo has nearly 30 years of experience at Random House; more than 15 of them spent working on All Things Seuss. She is also the production executive of The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! Kate is the author of many books for young readers, including 12 titles in the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library series. She has also written for young adults (The Centauriad Series) and has a new series for children, Dog Diaries, launching in January 2013.

 

• Jarrett Krosoczka: Two-time winner of the Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year in the Children’s Choice Book Awards, author and illustrator for sixteen published books – ten picture books and six graphic novels. He has seen his work recommended by national publications like Newsweek, The New York Times and USA Today. His Punk Farm and Lunch Lady series are also in development to be feature films.

 

• Susan Meddaugh: Author and illustrator of Martha Speaks, the best-selling book series, as well as a creative producer of the award-winning PBS KIDS series of the same name. Susan grew up in New Jersey, studied art and illustration, and now lives in Massachusetts with her family — including her dogs of course.

 

• R.L. Stine: As one of the best-selling children's authors in history, he has sold over 350 million books that have been read all over the world including Goosebumps - one of the best-selling children’s series of all-time. R.L. lives in New York City with his wife Jane and his dog Minnie.

 

Creative Writing Resources

 The Contest is supported by a robust set of resources for children, parents and teachers. Story ideas, activity sheets, and previous winning entries are available on the Contest website to inspire children during the brainstorming process. PBS LearningMedia is also offering a collection of online teacher resources for use in classrooms nationwide.

 

To enter the Contest and for more information on entry rules and contest resources visit www.writeonkids.org.

 

About WQED Pittsburgh

 WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu)

 

About EQT Corporation

 EQT Corporation is an integrated energy company with emphasis on Appalachian area natural gas production, gathering, transmission, and distribution. EQT is the general partner and majority equity owner of EQT Midstream Partners, LP. With more than 120 years of experience, EQT continues to be a leader in the use of advanced horizontal drilling technology – designed to minimize the potential impact of drilling-related activities and reduce the overall environmental footprint. Through safe and responsible operations, the Company is committed to meeting the country’s growing demand for clean-burning energy, while continuing to provide a rewarding workplace and enrich the communities where its employees live and work. Company shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange as EQT. Visit EQT Corporation at www.EQT.com.

 

About Penn State Public Broadcasting

 Penn State Public Broadcasting serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. Its public media services produce, acquire and distribute programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.

 

About West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Public Broadcasting nurtures personal growth, promotes civic responsibility and inspires lifelong discovery through high-quality programming and services. West Virginia Public Radio, West Virginia PBS, wvpubcast.org and Ready To Learn® are all services of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

 

The Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a 501(c)3 organization responsible for receiving donated funds from individuals for annual membership to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Friends serve as ambassadors in their communities on behalf of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

 

All of the licenses for West Virginia Public Broadcasting are held by the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, Kay Goodwin, Secretary.

 

About Saturday Light Brigade

SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (SLB) uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth and families. SLB believes in radio and audio because these technologies enable a sense of intimacy, engagement and self-directed imagination that is often lacking in other media, while also promoting opportunities for privacy (given that children need not be photographed), equal access (audio has fewer barriers for participation than other media), and sharpening of important life skills (i.e., speaking and listening, imagination, creative expression, and critical thinking, respect for others, confidence and cooperation, and technical curiosity).

 

About PBS KIDS GO!

PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS GO! content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom, join our community online on Twitter and Facebook, or visit PBSKIDSGO.org.

 

About Easy Student Publishing

Meet writing standards and motivate students using book-making tools and resources from Easy Student Publishing. With Classbook and Storybook options, free programs, online or mail-in production and expert resources, we have publishing solutions designed for educators. Enhance curriculum, support literacy and promote creativity. Every student can be a published author!

 

About Highlights for Children, Inc. (www.Highlights.com) 

Devoted to "Fun with a Purpose," family media brand Highlights for Children, Inc. has helped children become their best selves for generations. Its flagship publication, Highlights magazine, the most recognizable and widely read children's magazine in the nation, has printed more than a billion copies. Other Highlights offerings include a version for younger children, High Five magazine; a new magazine for babies and their caregivers, Highlights Hello magazine; Highlights for Children book clubs; and mobile applications like My First Hidden Pictures. Highlights can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at its blog for thoughtful parents, Highlights Aha. Corporate offices are in Columbus, Ohio, and editorial offices are in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Fun with a Purpose, Goofus and Gallant, and Hidden Pictures are trademarks of Highlights for Children, Inc.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PBS Kids Writer's Contest Winners Named

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 16, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

TRI-STATE STUDENTS HONORED IN
WQED PITTSBURGH PBS KIDS GO! WRITERS CONTEST

-- Local First Place Winners will Enter National Contest to be Judged This Summer --

PITTSBURGH – WQED Pittsburgh is proud to announce local winners for the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest sponsored by EQT Corporation. All first place winners will be entered into the national PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, where they will compete against area winners from across the county. The contest, presented locally by WQED Pittsburgh, and sponsored locally by EQT Corporation with national funding support from Studentpublishing.com, encourages children in grades K-3 in WQED’s viewing area of western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia and Maryland and in communities across the country to celebrate the power of language and creativity by creating and submitting original stories and illustrations.

WQED was one of sixty-three (63) public television stations across the country that participated in this year’s contest.

This year WQED invited 95 finalists to its WQED Studios in Oakland for a celebration to recognize the creative and effort each child put forth. Nineteen 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention winners had the opportunity to see their stories turned into a puppet play.  Pittsburgh Puppetworks wrote and performed “Jewel’s Treasure”, a story encapsulating the common threads of student’s entries. The play will be performed several more times throughout the summer, including on June 2nd and 3rd at the Three Rivers Arts Festival and June 10th at the Summer Reading Extravaganza.

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is produced annually by PBS KIDS and managed and created by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto, and is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative
that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages two to eight.  More information on PBS KIDS Raising Readers and the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest can be found at pbskids.org/read.

KINDERGARTEN
First Place: Abby the Talking Giraffe by Ella Black of North Huntingdon, PA Second Place: Geoff Giraffe’s Big Trip by Rylie Grimm of Lancaster, PA Third Place: Butterfly Friend by Caroline Troll of Somerset, PA

Honorable Mentions
Most Original: The Princesses Made the Rainbow by Aliah Kristine Boso of Easter Liverpool, OH
Best Illustration: Mr. Tree’s Story by Connor Smith of Pittsburgh, PA

FIRST GRADE
First Place: Two Mermaids and The Lost Baby Orca Whale by Abigail Gourdie of Gibsonia, PA
Second Place: Freddy Finds a Friend by Jacqueline Chalifoux of Wexford, PA
Third Place: Tara the Tiger and Blacky the Panther Find the Golden Triceratops Bone by Rebecca
Walter of Carnegie, PA

Honorable Mentions
Most Original:  If Kids Ran the World by Gabriella Dugan of Carnegie, PA
Best Non-Fiction: Getting Diabetes by Grace Kindel of Sligo, PA

SECOND GRADE
First Place: Dino Dudes: A Comic Book by Mackenna Roberts of Squirrel Hill, PA
Second Place: Paris by Malana Howard of Beechview, PA
Third Place:  Tid’s Butterfly Dream by Kathryn Bodnar of Brookline, PA

Honorable Mentions
Best Artwork: Monster Hall by Owen Kagle of Bridgeville, PA
Most Heartfelt: The Life of Addison by Emma Sinnamond of North Apollo, PA (Apollo-Ridge
Elementary)

THIRD GRADE
First Place: The Mystery of the Attic Intruder by Daniel Trimble of Brookline, PA
Second Place: Piggie and Birdie by Madi Morgan of McMurray, PA
Third Place: Hermie’s Adventure by Sean Sopko of Orwigsburg, PA

Honorable Mentions
Most 3-Dimensional: A Day to Remember: A True Story by Angeline Chalifoux of Wexford, PA
Best use of Recyclables: A Plan to Clean by Bella Cheberenchick of Cokesburg, PA

About EQT Corporation
EQT Corporation is an integrated energy company with emphasis on Appalachian area natural gas production, gathering, transmission, and distribution. With more than 120 years of experience, EQT
is a technology-driven leader in the integration of air and horizontal drilling. Through safe and
responsible operations, the Company is committed to meeting the country’s growing demand for clean-burning energy, while continuing to provide a rewarding workplace and enrich the
communities where its employees live and work. Company shares are traded on the New York
Stock Exchange as EQT.



About WQED Pittsburgh
WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities.  It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM
89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

About Penn State Public Broadcasting
Penn State Public Broadcasting serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. Its public media services produce, acquire and distribute programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.

About West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia Public Broadcasting nurtures personal growth, promotes civic responsibility and inspires lifelong discovery through high-quality programming and services. West Virginia Public Radio, West Virginia PBS, wvpubcast.org and Ready To Learn® are all services of West Virginia
Public Broadcasting.

The Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a 501(c) 3 organization responsible for receiving donated funds from individuals for annual membership to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Friends serve as ambassadors in their communities on behalf of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

All of the licenses for West Virginia Public Broadcasting are held by the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, Kay Goodwin, Secretary.

About Saturday Light Brigade
SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (SLB) uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth and families. SLB believes in radio and audio because these technologies enable a sense of intimacy, engagement and self-directed
imagination that is often lacking in other media, while also promoting opportunities for privacy (given
that children need not be photographed), equal access (audio has fewer barriers for participation than other media), and sharpening of important life skills (i.e., speaking and listening, imagination, creative expression, and critical thinking, respect for others, confidence and cooperation, and technical curiosity).

About PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs.  For more information on specific
PBS KIDS GO! content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit  pbs.org/pressroom, join
our community online on Twitter and Facebook, or visit  pbskidsgo.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Calling All Kids for PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest

WQED PITTSBURGH IS CALLING ALL KIDS FOR ANNUAL WRITERS CONTEST


PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest encourages children to create original stories and illustrations



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 18, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED PITTSBURGH IS CALLING ALL KIDS FOR ANNUAL WRITERS CONTEST

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest encourages children to create original stories and illustrations

PITTSBURGH – WQED Pittsburgh is kicking off the new year with the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest for students in grades kindergarten through third, a national initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning. 2012 marks the eighteenth year that WQED has offered the Contest to the region and the third year that EQT Corporation is sponsoring WQED’s contest in partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WV PBS.) Also partnering with WQED this year is Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU) which serves central Pennsylvania. A central website, writeonkids.org, provides information about the Contest and the local enrichment opportunities offered in each station area.

“By offering the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest to our region, we are encouraging early learners to explore their creativity while developing essential literacy skills,” said Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED. “WQED’s commitment to literacy and to nurturing children’s creative expression is unwavering, and we are delighted to offer this Contest again locally in partnership with our sister stations, WV PBS and WPSU. Research shows that creative writing can enhance and improve a child’s literacy development, and through this Contest, we are helping prepare children for learning and success, in school and beyond.”

Beginning January 14, 2012, WQED, WV PBS, WPSU and other PBS stations throughout the country will work with schools, public libraries and other education organizations to implement the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest in their communities. To celebrate the beginning of the Contest and distribute related materials, WQED will host the openings of two new PBS KIDS Library Corners, the first in the region, at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie on January 26 and at the Homestead Library on February 2. These events, primarily for school groups, will also feature appearances by characters from the popular PBS KIDS programs, SUPER WHY! and The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! The Saturday Light Brigade, a key local partner in the 2012 Contest, will also install and debut two new Story Boxes that highlight winning stories from the 2011 Contest, read by the student authors themselves. A Story Box is a wall-mounted or tabletop box, the face of which contains pictures with “hot spots” that are pressed to hear audio tracks.

For more information on the PBS KIDS Writers Contest in West Virginia, Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Central Pennsylvania, including entry forms, rules, contest resources, and local event listings, go to www.writeonkids.org

In order to equip parents and teachers to best support their students’ contest entries, WQED will conduct three one-hour webinars on issues related to writing and illustration.

To register for:

• “Writing and Editing” January 25 at 3:30 p.m. with elementary school teacher Caley Svensson;

• “Ideation to Storyboarding” February 8 at 3:30 p.m. with local children’s author Michael Scotto;

• “Illustration” March 7 at 3:30 p.m. with Joe Wos, Executive Director of the Toonseum

go to www.writeonkids.org or click on the webinar titles above.

WQED, WV PBS and WPSU will select local winners and award prizes. Local winners will be entered into the national level of the Contest where a panel of judges will select the winners. National winners will be announced and prizes – including tablets, e-readers and MP3 players – will be awarded during summer 2012.

For the second year in a row, WQED has partnered with The Saturday Light Brigade to invite winners and honorable mentions from the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest to record their stories live in the Saturday Light Brigade radio studios at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh; these recordings will be made on April 28. Winning stories will be aired by The Saturday Light Brigade as part of their Youth Expression Showcase, archived on SLB's website, matched with individual author’s stories in the “Previous Winners” section of the Contest website, and included in new versions of The Saturday Light Brigade’s contest storyboxes.

This year’s winners’ celebration will be held in the historic Fred Rogers’ Studio at WQED in Oakland on May 12 and will feature performances of the winners’ stories that have been transformed into puppet plays.


About WQED Pittsburgh

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.


About Penn State Public Broadcasting

Penn State Public Broadcasting serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. Its public media services produce, acquire and distribute programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.


About West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Public Broadcasting nurtures personal growth, promotes civic responsibility and inspires lifelong discovery through high-quality programming and services. West Virginia Public Radio, West Virginia PBS, wvpubcast.org and Ready To Learn® are all services of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a 501(c)3 organization responsible for receiving donated funds from individuals for annual membership to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Friends serve as ambassadors in their communities on behalf of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

All of the licenses for West Virginia Public Broadcasting are held by the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, Kay Goodwin, Secretary.


About Saturday Light Brigade

SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (SLB) uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth and families. SLB believes in radio and audio because these technologies enable a sense of intimacy, engagement and self-directed imagination that is often lacking in other media, while also promoting opportunities for privacy (given that children need not be photographed), equal access (audio has fewer barriers for participation than other media), and sharpening of important life skills (i.e., speaking and listening, imagination, creative expression, and critical thinking, respect for others, confidence and cooperation, and technical curiosity).


About PBS KIDS GO!

PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS GO! content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, join our community online on Twitter and Facebook, or visit pbskidsgo.org.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh