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The 2025 Barrow County School System Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl was held January 24, 2025 at the Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy with the following participating teams: Bramlett Elementary, Yargo Elementary, Holsenbeck Elementary, Austin Road Elementary, Haymon-Morris Middle, Bear Creek Middle, Westside Middle, Arts & Innovation Magnet School, Russell Middle, Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy, and Winder-Barrow High School.
The competition consisted of six rounds of ten questions about the content of 10 Georgia Book Award Nominees for elementary and middle school students, while high school students were quizzed on the 20 Georgia Peach Teen Book Award Nominees. Points were tallied from each round and the teams below were recognized for their achievements.
Elementary Division
Champion: Austin Road Elementary School
Coaches: Crystal Thornton, Kimberly Kasama
Students: Lance Henderson, Sara Bing, Sydney Gordon, Leilan Rucker, Melanie Moreno ALys Thornton
Middle School Division
Champion: Russell Middle School
Coaches: Aprille Williams
Students: Will Maynard, MJ Vargas, Mary Still, Evann Dunning, Eleanor Vanderniet, Isla McIIvenna, Holly Pokusa, Emileigh Brookes, Mikaylyn Smith
2nd Place: Arts Innovation Magnet School
Coaches: Jenny Stockwell, Jonathan Berry
Students: Lily Wagner, Olivia Goodwin, Amber Nelson, Grace Hernandez, Juan Bustos, Nathan Bloomfield, Raegan Junkin, Lilly Oehmen, Allyson Deloya
3rd Place: Haymon-Morris Middle School
Coach: Stephanie Conley, Christy Wilson, Kelli Standridge
Students: Zelda Groeninger, Danielle Browner, Asare Opoku, Alyssa Butcher, Dominic Mills, Caleb Gajda, Claire Ellis, Mason Williams, Micah Sanchez-Howell
High School Division
Champion: Barrow Arts and Science Academy
Coach: Amber Chandler
Students: Abigail Welborn, Dani Decker, Ariel Brooks, Kamdyn Aguilar, Lizzy Buckingham, Daniela Mondragon-Hernandez, Courtney Kimelman, Kayden Padmore, Helena Cadavid , Soli Knight, Miranda Caudillo-Farias
2nd Place: Winder Barrow High School
Coach: Maegan Holt
Students: Molly Huff, Harper Allen, Finley Krill, Celeste Still, Shelbi Elwood