This year's winners of the Weekly's 17th annual Short Story Contest tackled an array of topics - from the Vietnam War to aging -- in an engaging, thought-provoking style. The judges who chose them are Mike Nagler, Tom Parker and Ellen Sussman, all of whom are writers, teachers and authors.

We would like to thank all of the contestants and encourage you to enter again next year.

First Place
Jamie Beckett, Leaving: April 1975

Second Place
Emily Risberg, The Prophet of Oz

Third Place
Shirley Klock
Natural Heroes

This year's youth winners of the Weekly's 17th annual Short Story Contest all have wonderfully vivid imaginations and are great storytellers.

The judges who chose them are: Nancy Etchemendy, Katy Obringer and Caryn Huberman Yacowitz (children and teens); and Mike Nagler, Tom Parker and Ellen Sussman (young adults).

Children 9-11

First Place
Sonya Raymakers, "Nighthawk"

Second Place
Brent Talbott, "Cindy-Fan"

Third Place
Molly Bolten, "Lost in Time"

Teen 12-14

Second Place
Eben LaPier, "Knight/Mage"

Third Place
Hana Low, "Time for Tea"

Young Adult 15-17

First Place
Wendy Hagenmajer, "Eighty-Eight Years, Four Seasons, then Home"

Second Place
Shayla Dressler, "Almonds"

Third Place
Aaron Hebert "Follow the General"