Thanks to over 1,200 poets, teachers, schools, and judges for sharing in the 18th 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 7 and 8:
First Prize: $100
Bodacious monarchs
Feeding on aster nectar
A robin’s watching
Lester Barrett, Age 14, Grade 8
Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago
Runner-up: $20
Black roses of death
Prick me with your sharpest thorn
Release me from life
Jasmine Su, Age 13, Grade 8
Avery Coonley School, Downers Grove, IL
Runner-up: $20
We as women: FIERCE.
No matter our race: STRONGER.
Shade your eyes: BRILLIANT.
Kabirat Atoyebi, Age 12, Grade 7
St. Mary of the Lake, Chicago
Runner-up: $20
Glacial snow devolves
Into shuddering water
Golden light brings hope
Evan Bell, Age 14, Grade 8
Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago
Runner-up: $20
Lindo paisaje
La primavera azul
Olor fragante
Briyith Mejia, Age 12, Grade 7
Josephine Locke Elementary , Chicago
Runner-up: $20
In the distortion
Ambushed by the instrument
Six strings so piercing
Shayan Rahimi, Age 13, Grade 8
Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago
Runner-up: $20
waterfall for life
fingers crossed for tears of gold
make you or break you
Efi Malliaras, Age 13, Grade 8
St. Monica Academy, Chicago
Founders, Dr. Al Klinger Award: $50
Ink meets the paper
A flood of ideas come
The story begins
Charlie Bagdonas, Age 13, Grade 8
St. Monica Academy, Chicago
Haiku Festival Program Cover Art: $25
Notan Design by:
Akira Brown, Age 14, Grade 8
Cynthia Solomon, Fine Arts Teacher
Alex Haley Academy, Chicago
Haiku Festival Program Cover Art (Runner-up)
Notan Design by:
Ashley Donegan, Age 14, Grade 8
Cynthia Solomon, Fine Arts Teacher
Alex Haley Academy, Chicago
Egnor Family Teacher of the Year:
Ms. Diana Zurawski
Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago
Lyvers Family School of the Year:
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago
Ms. Mindy Gonzalez
Ms. Joanne Lindley-Hernandez
Ms. Lourdes Ocasio
Mr. Jack Devitt
Mr. Jeff Putnam
Mr. Ray Turner