BRUNSWICK — Cornerstones of Science, the award-winning science literacy organization based in Maine, announced the winners of the 2011 Read, Write & Win student essay and illustration contest at St. John's School. Nearly 300 students from Maine entered the contest. The competition is designed to increase the students' science literacy — a connection to, and understanding of, current scientific knowledge.

The Read, Write and Win contest involved students and teachers from nine area schools, but in some cases, it became a family activity where brothers and sisters competed, and placed as winners, in their respective grades. These family winners included Kyle and Jason Almquist of Lewiston, Rachel and Allie Burns of Brunswick and Carolyn and Dominick Frank of East Dixfield.

The contest is open to all students in the U.S., from grades 3-12. Participants select a book from the Cornerstones of Science collection in their local library, write a review and/or draw an illustration, and submit their work for judging.

The top three winners in each grade for both categories, written review or original illustration, received a gift certificate from Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick. The winning essays, on topics that ranged from anthropology to zoology, are posted on the Cornerstones of Science website: www.cornerstonesofscience.org/readwritewin-teens.aspx#2011Winners.