Poetry Contest Winners Recognized

Poetry Contest Winners Recognized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2023

Celebration of Poetry Event Slated April 26

YORK, PA – York County Libraries have announced the winners of the 34th Annual “A Celebration of Poetry” contest. Students from York and Adams County submitted original poems and twenty-four winners were selected. The winning students will read their entries during a special ceremony in their honor. It will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 at Guthrie Memorial Library in Hanover.

“Our libraries offer this opportunity for students every year. Writing poetry provides a vehicle for self-expression, communication, and creativity,” says York County Libraries President Robert F. Lambert. “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the 2023 poetry contest entrants and to our winning poets.”

According to Lambert, York County Libraries received 159 contest entries this year. Winners were selected in the following age groups: Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8, Grades 9-10, and Grades 11-12. They were judged on organization and overall impact, poetry elements, grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling by a panel of local educators, librarians, and writers. This year’s judges include The Rev. Carla S. Christopher, Sr. Anne Higgins, Joslin Kearse, Travis Kurowski, Lori Leckrone, Dominish Miller, Dustin Nispel, Spencer Patterson, Jerald Proctor Sr., Alba Sarria, Diaz Woodard, and Demian Yumei.

The 2023 poetry contest winners are as follows:

First & Second Grade

First Place: Gabriella Wright
Second Place: Alzette Georgi
Third Place: Amelia Bentzelk 
Fourth Place: Claire Vranich

Third & Fourth Grade

First Place: Irelyn Sprenkle
Second Place: Wyatt Markle
Third Place: Annecy Georgi
Fourth Place: Abigail Williams

Fifth & Sixth Grade

First Place: Kathleen Robinson
Second Place: Elizabeth Stoecker
Third Place: David Gelfand
Fourth Place: Scarlett Davey

Seventh & Eighth Grade

First Place: Avery Yoder
Second Place: Jemma Cooksey
Third Place: Abigail Rupp
Fourth Place: Faith Champagne

Ninth & Tenth Grade

First Place: Ella Gladfelter
Second Place: Amelia Jones
Third Place: Isaac Roberts
Fourth Place: Ian McEvoy

Eleventh & Twelfth Grade

First Place: Annika Swenson
Second Place: Rylee Barmore
Third Place: Tamsin Moore
Fourth Place: Anjelea Whitehead

Anyone with questions about the upcoming “A Celebration of Poetry” event should contact youth services staff at [email protected].

Guthrie Memorial Library is located at 2 Library Place in Hanover. It is a member of York County Libraries which includes 13 libraries that provide the latest in print and digital information, bestsellers, Wi-Fi, story times, book discussions and 80 databases. Their extensive collection includes over 642,000 items and one million digital library materials for loan. All are available for free with a York County Libraries card. Community members without a card are invited to request one at yorklibraries.org at no cost.

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  Poetry Contest Winners Recognized

MEDIA CONTACT

Deb Sullivan
Community Relations Director
York County Libraries
[email protected]