2011 Youthful Voices Storytellers

2011 YV Teller: Hanna Oliveto

Hanna Oliveto is a 6th grader at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School.  She is an honor student, a member of the Junior Optimist Club, and has been a participating storyteller in the annual Pinellas Tellers Student Storytelling Festival since 2007.  An avid reader, Hanna also enjoys creative writing and engaging in philosophical discourse.  Other interests include playing piano and guitar, slingshotting, woodcarving, and drawing.  She believes that the meaning of life is to be found in Life itself through the pursuit of knowledge, that all things are connected so that knowledge leads to a better understanding which leads to happiness.  She loves animals of all kinds and has a guinea pig named Dandilion.

2011 YV Teller: Gage Morgan

Gage Morgan is a Principal’s Honor Roll student at Hammond Elementary in Odessa, Florida and is currently in the 5th grade. He is on the crew of his school’s morning show  and is a member of the National Junior Beta Club.  Gage has participated in storytelling for the past two years and was an Ambassador Storyteller for Hillsborough County last year. He placed first in his school for the Tropicana Speech competition. He enjoys playing is basketball and is currently taking Mixed Martial Arts lessons. Other interests are listening to his ipod and playing video games. Gage plans to attend Walker IB Middle School next year.

2011 YV Teller: Mackenzie Moreno

Hi. My name is Mackenzie Moreno, and I’m a 5th grader at Ridgecrest Elementary in Largo, Florida.   Some of my favorite ways to pass the time include playing the piano, cantoring for my church, and reading with my kitty.  With my family, I enjoy playing outside, running, and tennis.  My proudest moments this year include the following:  co-hosting a 30 minute television show about the Great American Teach In anchoring for my school’s morning show; winning 2nd place in a state-wide writing and illustration contest sponsored by the  Florida State Fair;  and winning a scholarship to Story Camp!

2011 YV Teller: Haley Lindbak

Haley Lindbak is a 5th grader at Lowry Elementary in Tampa, Florida. She has been an ambassador storyteller for five years all across Hillsborough County. For the last two years, Haley has won the Tropicana Speech Contest for her school and has gone on to compete at the district level. At Lowry, Mrs. Marlene Sacarello and Ms. Kimberly Henriquez, two outstanding teachers, guided her through storytelling. She not only likes telling stories, she also likes writing and illustrating them. Haley plays guitar, piano, and even the xylophone! Her favorite sport is soccer. Of all the things she likes to do, she most enjoys spending quality time with her two cats (Inky and Misty).

2011 YV Teller: McKenna Crosby

McKenna Crosby is a straight A student at Talbot Elementary in Gainesville, Florida.  She joined KidsTell; this year and has since performed at the Barberville Pioneer Festival, and at a local library storytelling presentation. She enjoys playing volleyball, camping with her family, reading, baking/cooking, church activities and anything purple!  She dreams of one day opening a bakery so that she can taste and share delicious goodies.