
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]