Springfield Public Schools students received 514 winning entries for the 2018 Language Arts Department of Southwest Missouri. Nearly 400 individual students will be recognized at the regional fair, which celebrates excellence in communications for students, said Stephanie Summers, SPS LAD coordinator.

"We have student winners across the district from 16 separate SPS schools and 53 teachers," said Summers. View a complete list of SPS winners.

LAD Fair is a writing and art competition for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Students from schools all across southwest Missouri each year, with more than 50 different schools entering to this year's competition. More than 6,900 entries were submitted to the annual contest, and a number of students were inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame. They earned the specific recognition by having their first place winning entries recognized across several categories. View a complete list of SPS Writers Hall of Fame inductees.

The winners from the massive regional contest will be recognized and their works on display from 8 to 11 a.m. at the 2018 LAD Fair Saturday, April 28, at Willard High School. The community is invited to see and read students' work, as well as watch poetry performed and scholarships be awarded.