CONTESTS AND AWARDS

awards_contests

Download the complete schedule HERE.

NEW! Continuing in 2025, individual participation certificates will no longer be mailed. Participation certificates will be available for teachers to download below. The certificate is editable and printable for your convenience.  Winning participants will continue to receive notification letters by mail.
 

Questions? Call 719-553-0202 or email amanda.dalie@pueblolibrary.org

  • Grade: PreK - 12
  • Deadline: October 24, 2025
  • Awards Ceremony: Awarded by Mail
  • Entry Form:  Download here.
  • Participation Certificate: Download here.

Three winners will be selected from each grade.

Contest Rules:
1. Only one entry per person is accepted.
2. Participants must be Pueblo County residents.
3. Art must feature original illustrations, either hand-drawn or computer-generated. Clip art or pre-produced images will not be accepted due to copyright issues.
4. All entries must have the entry form attached to the top of your entry.
5. Submit entries to any library location or mail to:
Rawlings Library 
Attn: Community Relations
100 E. Abriendo Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004
 

Winners will receive their awards by mail. Each winner will receive a certificate of achievement, a gift certificate to Books Again used bookstore, and a custom PCCLD journal and pencil.

Bookmark Contest

Grade: PreK - 12

Deadline: March 20, 2026

Awards Ceremony: May 13, 2026

Entry Form: Download here.

Participation Certificate: Download here.

 

Three winners will be selected from each grade.

 

Contest Rules:

1. Only one entry per person is accepted.

2. Participants must be Pueblo County residents.

3. Bookmarks must feature original illustrations, either hand-drawn or computer-generated. Clip art or pre-produced images will not be accepted due to copyright issues.

4. All entries must have the entry form attached to the top of your entry.

5. Submit entries to any library location or mail to:

Rawlings Library 

Attn: Community Relations

100 E. Abriendo Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004

 

 

Awards Ceremony
Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the Rawlings Library. At the awards ceremony, each winner will receive a certificate of achievement, a gift certificate to Books Again used bookstore, and a custom PCCLD journal and pencil. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Dr. Seuss Character Contest

Grade: PreK - 12

Deadline: February 13, 2026

Awards Ceremony: April 1, 2026

Entry Form: Download here.

Participation Certificate: Download here.

 

Three winners will be selected from each grade.

 

Contest Rules:

1. Only one entry per person is accepted.

2. Participants must be Pueblo County residents.

3. Draw your own Dr. Seuss character and write a brief description of your character. Drawings must feature original illustrations, either hand-drawn or computer-generated. Clip art or pre-produced images will not be accepted due to copyright issues.

4. All entries must have the entry form attached to the top of your entry.

5. Submit entries to any library location or mail to:

Rawlings Library 

Attn: Community Relations

100 E. Abriendo Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004

 

Awards Ceremony
Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the Rawlings Library. At the awards ceremony, each winner will receive a certificate of achievement, a gift certificate to Books Again used bookstore, and a custom PCCLD journal and pencil. Light refreshments will be provided. 

 

Elementary School Grades 4th & 5th
Teachers: Classroom discussion: Discuss the importance of the Declaration of Independence as the first formal statement to England that the American Colonies will no longer accept the rule of King George III and the British Government.
The Colonies will now live together under a democratic government and become known as the United States of America.
Student’s prompt: George Washington was an important part of the American Revolution. What were his major contributions up to, during and after our war of independence?

 

Middle and High School Grades 6th – 12th
Teachers: Classroom discussion: Discuss the importance of the Declaration of Independence as the first formal statement to England that the American Colonies will no longer accept the rule of King George III and the British Government.
The Colonies will now live together under a democratic government and become known as the United States of America.
Students: Preamble to the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
Prompt: After learning about the beginning of the Colonies new government and Declaration write an essay about your thoughts on what the underlined statements in the Preamble above mean to you and the effect they have had on our country.
 
How to submit entries: Drop off at any library location, submit online, or mail to:
Pueblo City-County Library District
Attn: Community Relations
100 E. Abriendo Ave.
Pueblo, CO 81004

 
Guidelines
Participants must be residents of Pueblo County.
Essay length:  
300-500 words for grades 4-5
400-700 words for grades 6-8
500-1,000 words for grades 9-12
Format: One copy of entry with entry form stapled in top, left-hand corner. All entries must be typed.

Judging
Pueblo Home of the Heroes Association Judging Committee will award first, second, and third place in each category, 4-5 grade, 6-8 grade and 9-12 grade. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Prizes
Winners will receive a booklet of the winning entries, a certificate of achievement and a cash prize!
1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $75, 3rd Place - $50

Awards ceremony
April 8, 2026 at 6 p.m.
Rawlings Library
100 E. Abriendo Ave.
Pueblo, CO 81004

 

 

The Pueblo City-County Library District invites all teachers in Pueblo County to nominate the student in your classroom whose reading skills have shown the most improvement for a Most Improved Reader Award.

If you would like someone to attend your awards ceremony but missed the deadline, please include your information and these requests will be considered on a case by case basis.
 
The Pueblo City-County Library District invites all teachers in Pueblo County to nominate the student in your classroom whose reading skills have shown the most improvement for a Most Improved Reader Award. This award is not for the best reader, but rather for the student who has really tried to learn to read better, and/or who through their own efforts has improved their reading skills greatly during the past year. Please select the student or students from your classroom whom you feel should receive this recognition.
 
Please complete one form per award/child, below(Nominations opening in April 2026).
 

 

Poetry Writing Contest 

Grade: 2 - Adult

Deadline: April 10, 2026

Awards Ceremony: May 13, 2026

Entry Form: Downloadhere.

Participation Certificate: Download here.

 

Three winners will be selected from each grade.

 

Contest Rules:

1. Three entries per person are accepted, but one poem per page.

2. Participants must be Pueblo County residents.

3. Poets are invited to write a poem about any topic and written in any style.

4. All entries must have the entry form attached to the top of your entry.

5. Submit entries to any library location or mail to:

Rawlings Library 

Attn: Community Relations

100 E. Abriendo Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004

 

 

Awards Ceremony
Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the Rawlings Library. At the awards ceremony, each winner will receive a certificate of achievement, a gift certificate to Books Again used bookstore, and a custom PCCLD journal and pencil. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Scary Story Contest

Grade: 2 - Adult

Deadline: October 31, 2025

Awards Ceremony: January 8, 2026

Entry Form: Download here.

Participation Certificate: Download here.

 

Three winners will be selected from each grade.

 

Contest Rules:

1. Only one entry per person is accepted.

2. Participants must be Pueblo County residents.

3. You are invited to write a mystery, suspenseful thriller, or humorous scary tale of a non-violent nature. Stories are 1,000 words or less and should be typed.

4. All entries must have the entry form attached to the top of your entry.

5. Submit entries to any library location or mail to:

Rawlings Library 

Attn: Community Relations

100 E. Abriendo Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004

 

Awards Ceremony
Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the Rawlings Library. At the awards ceremony, each winner will receive a certificate of achievement, a gift certificate to Books Again used bookstore, and a custom PCCLD journal and pencil. Light refreshments will be provided. 


 

Winter Contest 

Grade: PreK - Adult

Deadline: December 19, 2025

Awards Ceremony: Awarded by Mail

Entry Form: Download here.

Participation Certificate: Download here.

 

Three winners will be selected from each grade.

 

Contest Rules:

1. Only one entry per person is accepted.

2. Participants must be Pueblo County residents.

3. You are invited to design one of these winter favorites and write a brief description of your creation: snowflake/snowman, food, penguin, or train!

4. All entries must have the entry form attached to the top of your entry.

5. Submit entries to any library location or mail to:

Rawlings Library 

Attn: Community Relations

100 E. Abriendo Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004

 

Awards Ceremony
Winners will receive their awards by mail. Each winner will receive a certificate of achievement, a gift certificate to Books Again used bookstore, and a custom PCCLD journal and pencil. l.