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Richmond Writes! Poetry Winners Announced
The Richmond Arts and Culture Commission announced its winners in the 2018 Richmond Writes Poetry contest.
Students from 19 elementary, middle and high school students in the West Contra Costa Unified School District submitted haikus and short poems, and 50 winners were selected for submitting writing around the theme of change. More than 400 poems were submitted on the topic.
The winners will be recognized at the Richmond Writes! Poetry Awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 13 in the City Council Chambers, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia will present the awards.
First, second and third place winners will receive cash gift cards and certificates; Honorable Mentions will receive certificates; and all students who submitted poetry to the contest will receive a copy of the 2018 Richmond Writes! Poetry Book containing all of the poems. Friends and families are invited, and some of the students will be reading their poetry.
The Richmond Writes! Poetry Contest is in its eighth year and was started by the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission as a way to celebrate the month of April as National Poetry Month. Hundreds of the District’s students have participated since the inception of the event.
Here is a complete list of this year’s winners:
2018 Richmond Writes! Poetry Contest Winners
The winners of the 2018 Richmond Writes! Poetry Contest are listed by judging teams:
Team: Silvia Ledezma & Nicole Valentino
Elementary School:
1st Place Poem: “Change” by Mayari Mendo; Washington Elementary
2nd Place Poem: ”Fire and Rain” by Jayden Murcia; Montalvin Elementary
3rd Place Poem: “Funerales” by Angel David Alvarez; Washington Elementary
Honorable Mentions
Poem: “Alberto” by Jizelle Velasquez; Washington Elementary
Poem: “Old Yosemite” by Alexandria Duff; Washington Elementary
Middle School:
1st Place Poem: “Fire” by Citlali Mendo; Korematsu Middle School
2nd Place Poem: “Changes Haiku” by Christopher Otten; Juan Crespi Middle School
[No 3rd place or Honorable Mentions due to number of poems submitted.]
High School:
1st Place: Untitled by Fine Lutu; John F. Kennedy High School
2nd Place “Change” by Faith Reyes; School: John F. Kennedy High School
3rd Place: Untitled by Dayshawn Turner; John F. Kennedy HS High School
No Honorable Mentions
Team: Terri Hinte & Ada Recinos
Elementary School:
1st Place: “The Moon” by Iris Fisher; Kensington Hilltop Elementary
2nd Place: "Running" by Michael Hassner; Kensington Hilltop Elementary
3rd Place: "Untitled" by Lucy Anderson; Kensington Hilltop Elementary
Honorable Mentions:
"New" by Torian Bennett; Hanna Ranch Elementary
"An Egg" by Damian Piech, Kensington Hilltop Elementary
Team: David Duer & Tatiana Ortiz
Elementary School:
1st Place: “Seasons” by Kaylin Martinez; Murphy Elementary
2nd Place: “Sitting Alone” by Alexandra Covey; Mira Vista Elementary
3rd Place: Untitled by Natalia Giddings; Murphy Elementary
Honorable Mentions:
“Haiku Poem” by Vaughn Ortiz; Murphy Elementary
“Think of Others” by Sumayah Rowaid; Mira Vista Elementary
Team: Tobey Kaplan and Daniel Ari
Elementary School:
1st Place: “I AM” by Ana Julia Curcino; Olinda Elementary
2nd Place: “Change” by A’ Million Morgan; Murphy Elementary
3rd Place: “Sunrise” by Anna Sophie Koprek; Olinda Elementary
Honorable Mention
“Monopoly” by Jawan Eldridge; Olinda Elementary
“Johnny Ruck Got a Duck” by Zander Serrano; Murphy Elementary
Team: Rob Lipton & Steve Early
Elementary School:
1st Place: “My Goal” by Aileen Alvarado; Peres Elementary
2nd Place: “My Haiku” by Ximena Santos; Peres Elementary
3rd Place: “Hurtful” by Lucas Wilson: Tara Hills Elementary
Honorable Mentions
“Ban”; Andrea Gonzalez; Tara Hills Elementary
“The Changes I Need” by Nivia Ventura; Tara Hills Elementary
Middle School:
1st Place: “Beach BBQ” by Aaron Aldana; Sylvester Greenwood Academy
2nd Place: “Close My Eyes” by Sergio Hernandez; Sylvester Greenwood Academy
3rd Place: “Today I Start My Soccer Dream” by Luis Avelar; Greenwood Academy
Honorable Mentions
“Injured” by Milan Horta; Pinole Middle School
“Life” by Aaron Aldana; Sylvester Greenwood Academy
High School:
1st Place: Untitled by Dalia Horta; Pinole Valley High School
[No 2nd, 3rd or Honorable Mentions due to number of poems submitted.]
Haiku Awards from the Haiku Poets of Northern CA selected by Susan Antolin:
1st Place: Untitled by Alissa McQueen; Peres Elementary
2nd Place: “Spring Yields” by Anna Sophia Koprek; Olinda Elementary
3rd Place: “Mommy” by Lilly Hayley Contreras; Mira Vista Elementary
Honorable Mentions (in unranked order)
Untitled by Ana Curtis; Murphy Elementary
“Sunset” by Geneva Metz; Olinda Elementary
“Night to Day” by Kaden Ulrich; Olinda Elementary
“Spring!” by Naomi Avila Aguilar; Peres Elementary
“Change in Weather” by Vianey Henandez; Mira Vista Elementary
“Butterflies” by Tula Zaragoza; Murphy Elementary
Arts & Culture Manager Awards:
1st Place: “My Brush” by Aubree Jimenez; Bayview Elementary
2nd Place: “The Wave” by Cesar Viveros; Bayview Elementary
3rd Place: “My Grandpa” by Melanie Tello; Bayview Elementary
Honorable Mentions:
“Don’t Be Mean” by Sage Evans; Bayview Elementary
“Mr. Troche” by Cedro Muna; Bayview Elementary