The Literacy Showcase was sponsored by the Gila Council, International Reading Association and Deming Public Schools.
The Special Events Center was packed with students and their family members who were treated to a bilingual presentation by guest speaker Joe Hayes prior to the awards ceremony.
Hayes is an award-winning author and nationally recognized teller of tales from the Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures.
Currently residing in Santa Fe, Hayes spent the week appearing at various schools in the district prior to Thursday’s event.
The students, representing each school in the district and each grade at the school, were then called onto the stage by name and presented with a medal in recognition of their selected writing.
The winning writings from each school will be bound into a book which students and their families can purchase.