NATCHEZ — Whether it’s for writing or illustrating, 9-year-old Fisher Iseminger is known as an award-winner.

Iseminger, who will be a fourth grader at Cathedral High School in August, recently took home a first-place award at the Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s 2011 PBS Kids Go Writing Contest.

Kindergarten through third-grade students all over Mississippi wrote and illustrated their own stories and entered them into the competition, with Iseminger taking home the top prize for third graders.

“I was really excited when they called my name and told me that I won,” Iseminger said. “It felt great to win.”

The win was even more special to Iseminger, who got second place in the same competition the previous year.

“It feels better to win than get second,” she said.

The story Iseminger wrote and illustrated to win the competition was called, “Runaway Paul.”

“It’s about a gum ball named Paul who is in a gum ball machine in a grocery store,” she said. “He gets out of the machine and tries to find his way back home.”

Iseminger received numerous prizes for her story, including a large art kit, a number of books and a hat.

She was also given the opportunity to visit MPB’s recording studio, where she got to record herself reading her story.

“They played me reading the story over the radio,” she said.

Iseminger said her love for writing stories stems from her love of reading them.

“I have always loved reading,” she said. “I just love sitting back and getting into a story.”

While reading is one of her favorite pastimes, Iseminger said she gets more enjoyment out of drawing and illustrating.

“If I had to pick between writing and illustrating I would have to pick illustrating,” she said. “ I really love to draw.”

While she may have a future in literature, Iseminger has her career sights currently set on a different job.

“I want to be an aerospace engineer,” she said. “I have always loved science, and I know I would love this.”

Iseminger said she was too young to go to space camp this summer, but luckily for her, she had plenty of activities to keep her busy.

Iseminger said when she is not in school, you can find her playing softball, basketball, riding horses, taking ballet, taking art lessons or even dancing for the Little Waves dance team.

“I am never at home,” she said.

Even with her busy schedule, Iseminger has yet to make anything lower than an A on her report card during her time in school, and said she hopes to continue to keep her grades up.

“It is important for everyone to get an education,” she said. “It teaches you what you need to know.”

Iseminger is the daughter of Barry and Paige Iseminger.