CVREP, local repertory theatre located in Cathedral City, held a writing contest this summer. Executive board member Peggy Jacobs felt the valley’s youth needed to remain engaged in learning during the pandemic. Thus began the CVREP Writing Competition.

Featured authors and full stories are published on PalmSpringsLife.com.

Winners from DSUSD were:

Category 1 (Ages 11-12)

1st Place: Holly Trubee, Palm Desert Charter Middle School
An untitled story of a girl learning to adjust to her first summer camp

2nd Place: Cidni Hordista, Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Numb, the story of a girl who experiences a family catastrophe

3rd Place: Addison Jackson, Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Bytes That Bite, an essay on how internet content has escalated racist expression

Category 2 (Ages 13-15)

1st Place: Kira Entzminger, Desert Ridge Academy
Thinking Pen, an exceptional original that immediately grabbed the judges’ attention

2nd Place: Cynthia Ruiz, La Quinta High School
For Breonna Taylor, a carefully crafted and powerful poem

3rd Place: Tilda Rector, Palm Desert Charter Middle School
The Other, a story with a western flair

Category 3 (Ages 16-18)

 2nd Place: Aivy To, Palm Desert High School
Finding Blue, the story of a troubled teenager living in a troubled home

3rd Place: Lizbeth Luevano, Indio High School
An untitled piece about the culture and struggles for her people

1st Place Winners were awarded a check for $500; 2nd Place won $250; and 3rd Place Winners received $100. All students who sent in a submission received a Certificate of Completion and a $20 Starbucks Gift Card.