Mary Frances Welsch’s poem, “Spring,” won first place for her age division in Huntsville Literary Association’s 46th annual Young Writers Contest. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Mary Frances Welsch, a second-grader at Heritage Elementary School, was the first-place poet in Huntsville Literary Association’s 46th annual Young Writers Contest.

Welsch’s work was judged tops among 30 contestants in the lower elementary poetry division. Any first- or second-grader in Madison County was eligible to enter.

“Mary Frances won honorable mention last year, so she wanted to enter again this year to try and win first place,” Heritage second-grade teacher Wendy Pharo said.

“Mary Frances is a gifted writer, and poetry is one of her favorite things to write. She likes the way that poetry allows you to express your feelings,” Pharo said.

Welsch’s poem, “Spring,” examined the changes that first take place in spring and “how good you feel to be outside,” Pharo said. A snippet of Welsch’s poem follows:

“It is beginning to be green.

I think it is spring.

Flowers coming out of the ground.

The robins sing a beautiful sound.”

“Mary Frances is an excellent student and a shining example to her peers of hard work and dedication,” Pharo said. “She is a joy to have in my classroom, and I know that she is going to go on to do great things.”

Mary Frances’ parents are Kevin and Andrea Welsch. Kevin works as a design engineer at Adtran, and Andrea contracts part-time for Adtran’s IT department. Mary Frances’ brother Charlie is a fourth-grader at Heritage.

Huntsville Literary Association was founded by a group of literary enthusiasts in 1967. The association promotes and encourages the literary arts in the Tennessee Valley.

The association sponsors “POEM” magazine, American Shakespeare Center on Tour, acting troupe performances, writing workshops, Sunday Salons and hosts visiting authors.

For more information, visit hlahsv.org/Programs/Young-Writers-Contest.