Thanks to over 1,000 poets, schools, and judges for sharing in our 17th Annual Haiku Festival workshops, readings, and events. Haiku Fest celebrates children through poetry and the arts, while promoting literacy.
Haiku Festival awards certificates to all participating student poets. Winning entries are listed below.
We proudly announce the following commendations for participants in grades 5 and 6:
First Prize: $100
leaves fall in the woods
crunching underneath my shoes
inner peace awaits
Adrian Walasik, Age 11, Grade 6
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago
Second Prize: $50
the hate is spreading
listen for roars of marching
as the past repeats
Adrian Neville, Age 10, Grade 5:
Staton Elementary, Denver
Gwendolyn Brooks Award:
across the night sky
icy rocks fly past swiftly
orbiting the sun
Ting Yang, Age 12, Grade 6
John Haines Elementary, Chicago
Haiku Festival Program Cover Art
Notan Design by:
Alyssa Clark, Age 13, Grade 7
Cynthia Solomon, Fine Arts Teacher
Alex Haley Academy, Chicago
Teachers of the Year:
Ms. Rebecca Grober
John Haines Elementary, Chicago
Ms. Courtney Wilwers
St. Monica Academy, Chicago
Schools of the Year:
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago
Ms. Mindy Gonzalez
Ms. Joanne Lindley-Hernandez
Ms. Jennifer Salen
Ms. Jessica Maldonado
Mr. Jack Devitt
John Haines Elementary, Chicago
Ms. Rebecca Grober
Ms. Michelle Wright
Ms. Anne Agostinelli