Haiku Fest awarded certificates to all participating student poets. Thanks to over 2,000 poets, parents and teachers for making Haiku Fest successful. Winning entries are listed below.

We proudly announce the following commendations for participants in grades 5 and 6:

First Prize: $100

the dark, deep canyon
beckoning me to join him
I begin to jump

Evan Hu, Age 11, Grade 6
James Ward Elementary, Chicago


Second Prize: $50

New clothing creates
Diverse personalities
Am I someone else?

Charles Difranco, Age 12, Grade 6
St. Francis Borgia, Chicago


Third Prize: $20

The bamboo tree grows
High into the big blue sky
It doesn’t give up

Jacob Lach, Age 11, Grade 6
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago

Poem of the School Award

A bird sits and waits.
It spots the target.
Package delivered

Jeremias Perez, Age 12, Grade 6
Thomas Edison Charter Academy, San Francisco


Honorable Mention

Palestine i miss
Muslim i am forever
Terroist am not

Yahya Ihmoud, Age 12, Grade 6
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago


Honorable Mention

Eyes welling with tears
Soon, soothing soft tender words
Ease the shy girl’s pain

Kayah Ptaszynski, Age 11, Grade 5
St. Francis Borgia, Chicago

Teacher of the Year:

Ms. Nilsa Lopezlena
Avondale-Logandale Elementary, Chicago


School of the Year:

Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago
Ms. Mindy Gonzalez,
Ms. Moyers