Thanks to over 1,100 poets, teachers, schools, and judges for sharing in the 19th 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:
chords from metal keys
echo from a bygone time
timeless symphony
Arianna Novak, Age 14, Grade 8
University of Chicago Lab School
2nd Prize:
books are my safe place
lose myself in the words
becoming my new home
Ashley Arroyo, Age 13, Grade 7
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago
3rd Prize:
empty library
walking down the long beige shelves
a person enters
Emma Oropeza, Age 13, Grade 7
Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago
Founders International Award:
the bombed old city
in a creative art class
one child repaints it
Samira Hussein, Age 14, Grade 8
Dannaks International School
Accra, Ghana
Honorable Mention:
I scream into voids
of swirling identity
filled with broken masks.
.
Elana Lio, Age 13, Grade 8
University of Chicago Lab School
Honorable Mention:
The tree sways slowly
Looks like a storm is coming
But you never know
Henry Preloger, Age 14, Grade 8
University of Chicago Lab School
Haiku Festival Program Cover Art Awards:
Notan Design by:
First Prize:
Winnie Chen, Age 13, Grade 8
Ms. Kelli Kusiak, Fine Arts Teacher
St Therese Chinese Catholic School
Chicago, IL
Second Prize (tied):
Lloyd Cooley, Age 13, Grade 7
Cynthia Solomon, Fine Arts Teacher
Alex Haley Academy, Chicago
Second Prize (tied):
Sofia Doyle, Age 13, Grade 7
Suzanne Cronacher, Fine Arts Teacher
St Giles, Oak Park, IL
Third Prize:
Luke Reale, Age 14, Grade 8
Suzanne Cronacher, Fine Arts Teacher
St Giles, Oak Park, IL
Teacher of the Year Award:
Ms. Diana Zurawski
Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago
School of the Year Award:
Josephine Locke Elementary, Chicago
Ms. Mindy Gonzalez
Ms. Joanne Lindley-Hernandez
Ms. Jose Jaramillo
Mr. Jeff Putnam