After several delays due to the winter storm, Riverdale’s much anticipated reading fair was held on February 3. With every student in the school participating this year’s event was all anyone could talk about.

Bethany Seales, coordinator of the event, stated that this was the best and biggest reading fair the school has ever had. “The judges were impressed by many of the projects and the level of competition. Choosing first and second place was tough in the lower grades especially.”

Seales went on to say that none of this could be possible without the wonderful staff and fabulous volunteer judges.

Winners of the fair will be moving on to the district level. “Good Luck to Everyone!”

2026 Riverdale Academy Reading Fair Winners

1st Grade
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Freya Bamburg
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Ava Kate Woodard
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Ella Rae Pickett

2nd Grade
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Mallory Paul
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Tilden Townsend

3rd Grade
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Hudson Bufkin
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Jase Woodard
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Deacon Gates

4th Grade
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Lydia Paul
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Teagan Vargan
Group Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Peyton Bierden and Jillie Shaver
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Caysen Gates and Alexis Yount

5th Grade
Fiction
1st Place Project – Hadley Brice
2nd Place Project – John Murphy
Group Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Remi Bamberg and Ella Kate Pickett
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Annelise Cason and Lauren Woodard

6th Grade
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Adalyn Halbmaier
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Jesse Jowers
Fiction
1st Place Project – Noah Guillory
2nd Place Project and 1st Place Character Portrayal – Ava Grace Waters

7th – 9th Grades
Group Nonfiction
1st Place Project – Dally Bell and Trevor Bell
Individual Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – William McCoy
2nd Place Project – Caden Spradley
Group Fiction
1st Place Project – Layla Pearah and Kylie Phillips
2nd Place Project – Jentry Bounds and Hope Williamson
1st Place Character Portrayal – Grayci Bamberg and Avery Longino
2nd Place Character Portrayal – Landen Bierden and Benton Yount

10th – 12th Grades
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Layken Gates
Fiction
1st Place – Krista Mancil
2nd Place – Emma Giddings
Group Nonfiction
1st Place Project – Ben Moseley, Mason Wilhite, and Tyler Wilhite
2nd Place Project and 1st Place Character Portrayal- Easton Cason, Sam Murray, and Edward York
Group Fiction
1st Place Project and 1st Place Character Portrayal – Makayla Pickett, Julia Grace Riggs, and Charity Williamson
2nd Place Project – Bailey Borders and Maddi Nettles
2nd Place Character Portrayal
Tie – Ayla Knotts and Lexi Mancil; Cannon Breedlove, Hayden Cason, and Jackson Hillman