A 10th-grade Yardley girl has secured the top prize in the Spring 2026 Bucks County Short Fiction Contest for High School students, organizers announced.
Sara Templeton, a student at Pennsbury High School, placed first for her story, “The Boy Who Painted the Sunset.”
The competition drew 50 entries from across the county, with final selections made by Dr. Ellen Pratofiorito, a faculty member at Bucks County Community College.
Pratofiorito praised Templeton’s work for its “sensitivity and nuance.”
Pratofiorito explained how the narrative explores both the value and the limitations of art in a young boy’s life.
“Starting with a rich description of a sunset, the writer bravely sets art alongside the life problems which art cannot solve,” Pratofiorito said, adding that the story suggests art can help an individual “survive, and maybe even hope to thrive.”
The second-place honor went to Jason Marks, a 10th-grader at Pennridge High School. His story, “The Grave,” was recognized for its believable dialogue and authentic portrayal of teenage boys.
Pratofiorito said that Marks successfully transitioned the story from humorous interactions to “darker and more existential questions” regarding isolation and self-doubt.
Sarah Lueck, a senior at Central Bucks West High School, took third place for “Echoes and Revelations.” The judge described the piece as an exploration of grief and trauma following an accident that causes the protagonist to lose their sight. In a unique stylistic turn, the narrator is revealed to be a dragon rather than a human.
The three winners will be recognized during a celebration scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
The event will be held in Tyler Hall on the Bucks County Community College’s Newtown Township campus.
