Busbee Elementary Student Olivia Love Wins Aiken Electric's Children's Book Challenge

″The Love’s Softball Tournament Catastrophe,” by Olivia Love, was selected as the regional winner of the 2023 Children’s Book Challenge, sponsored by Aiken Electric Cooperative and EnlightenSC – an educational initiative of the state’s consumer-owned electric cooperatives. The competition challenges fourth- and fifth-grade students to write and illustrate stories that focus on the impact of electricity in their lives, communities and the state.

Love, a fourth grader at Busbee Elementary, received a $50 gift card from Aiken Electric representative Jamacia McCray, marketing and communications coordinator, at a presentation on March 30. Love’s teacher Tammy Swartz also received a $50 gift card. Each student who participated in the challenge received a certificate of participation, and the entire class enjoyed a pizza party provided by Aiken Electric.

“The judges were impressed with the quality of the story and illustrations Olivia created for the book,” said Daniele Ligons, marketing and communications manager at Aiken Electric. “She is a gifted artist and writer, and we are pleased to be able to recognize and reward her work.”

Love’s book described a power outage during a softball tournament. Aiken Electric employees were called, coming to the rescue to save the softball game. Love created her story online. All participating students used the digital platform storyjumper.com to write and illustrate their books. Love’s book competed against other regional finalists from across the state.

Click here to read the full Aiken Standard article.