Youth Contest Winners
2008-2009 Youth Contest Results
Judge:
Carlos Valdes, GA Tech
Contest Chair:
Dr. Robert Simon
Results Ceremony:
25 April, 2009
Margery Carlson Prize:
1. "Another Cinderella" by Hannah Elias Sbaity from Pate’s Creek Elementary.
Teacher: Cheryl Green.
2. "Life" by Lydia Nuhfer from Huntley Hills Elementary School.
Teacher: Allison Hutchison.
3. "Ocean" by Alexxus Riles from the Georgia Academy for the Blind.
Teacher: Janice Polmatier.
Honorable mention: "A Year's Experience" by Jessica Ma from Shakerag Elementary School.
Teacher: Tina Hunter.
Marel Brown Prize:
Grades 6-8:
1. "I Pray" by Deshundre Willoughby from Carson Middle School.
Teacher: Sean Simpson.
2. "Worldly Things" by Katie Hay from McIntosh County Middle School.
Teacher: Cindy Jarriel.
3. "Tear-Satined Snow" by Kim Mejia from Haynes Bridge Middle School.
Teacher: Stephanie Brand.
Honorable mention: "Twas the Day Before Summer" by Alex Smith from Chestatee MS. Teacher: Michele Hood.
Grades 9-12:
1. "Yarn shops make my thoughts roll like oranges" by Emilie Menzel from Parkview High School.
Teacher: Mary Lynn Huie.
2. "Fallen" by Sara Cruzan from Northside High School.
Teacher: Carol Fasick.
3. "Obama Told Me So" by Eddie Sanders from Wilkinson County High School. Teacher: Mary Purrell.
Honorable mention:
"Cutting an Orange" by Allegra Midgette from Parkview High School.
Teacher: Mary Lynn Huie.
and "The Death of Poetry" by Levi David Vonk from Camden County High School. Teacher: Dan Vonk
Quote from the Judge:
"I was quite encouraged by the work of these young writers. If they continue to progress, the future of poetry in Georgia may be very bright.”
Judge Bio:
Carlos Valdes: Born in Cuba and grew up in New York. I have lived in Atlanta since 1987, when I came to the Georgia Institute of Technology. I have taught there since that time, mainly working with international students in the Georgia Tech Language Institute. Prior to coming to Atlanta, I did my graduate work in English at the University of Florida, where I studied under Donald Justice. For five years, I led a monthly poetry discussion group that met at the Buckhead Borders until 2004.