PIQUA — The Piqua Public Library has released the names of the winners of its 2016 Youth Poetry Contest in commemoration of April as National Poetry Month.
All but one of the winners are students in Shelby County schools.
Contest Coordinator Robin Heintz reported that the number of entries tripled from last year’s totals.
“Two hundred and three poems were entered by young people in four K-12 grade divisions. These poets represent 12 different schools and homeschoolers in two counties. We were deeply impressed, not only with the quantity of entries, but with their quality, as well. The Miami Valley can be very proud of the creativity of its students. There were well-thought-out works submitted — poetry that made me laugh and that made me cry. The youth of this area are amazing.”
Award-winners will read their works aloud during a reception at the library, 116 W. High St., Piqua, Tuesday, April 26, at 6 p.m.
“The judging was extremely difficult. Some of the winners triumphed by only one-half of a percentage point,” Piqua Library Director James Oda said. “I did not envy our 17 judges.”
First-, second- and third- place awards will be conferred in four grade divisions. First-place winners will receive $50 each; second-place, $25 each, and third-place, $10.
A Library Staff Favorite Award of $50 will also be awarded. The winner of this award is Emily Sloan, an 11th-grader at Troy Christian High School, for a poem titled “Trains.”
Division winners are as follows:
Kindergarten to third grade: first place: Brooklyn Fortkamp, second grade, Holy Angels: “Library Books.” Just one award was made in this division this year.
Fourth to sixth grade: first place: Nehela Batchelder, sixth grade, Anna Middle School: “Sweet Dreams in Japan”; second place: Kaylie Kipp, sixth grade, Anna Middle School: “The Special Place”; third place: Juliette VanHook, sixth grade, Anna Middle School: “My Family.”
Seventh to ninth grade: first place: Brandon Hemsworth, ninth grade, Anna High School: “The Domino Effect”; second place: Kenzie Bricker, ninth grade, Christian Academy Schools: “The Sun May Go Down”; third place: Caleb Johnson, ninth grade, Sidney High School: “The Land of Dreams.”
Tenth to 12th grade: first place: Destiny Clayton, 11th grade, Sidney High School: “A Bittersweet Addiction”; second place: NourEddine Hijazi, 11th grade, Sidney High School: “Lyrical Lamentations”; third place: Savannah Brabbin, 11th grade, Sidney High School: “Fat Fluffy Floof.”
