New York, NY (December 15, 2021)— The Academy of American Poets is pleased to announce the thirteen finalists of the 2022 National Poetry Month Poster Contest for Students. 170 high school students from across the country responded to an open call for submissions, and thirteen students from seven different states have been named finalists. The winning student, to be determined by Nikki Grimes, New York Times-bestselling author and poet and Rafael López, New York Times-bestselling illustrator, will have their artwork featured on 100,000 posters that will be distributed for free to schools, libraries, bookstores, and families nationwide for the April 2022 celebration of National Poetry Month. 

The finalists are:

Andrew B., Grade 11, Massachusetts 

Leila C., Grade 10, Ohio

Stephanie C.L., Grade 11, New York

Lena G., Grade 10, New York

Lauren K., Grade 12, Colorado

Lara L., Grade 11, New York

Jill M., Grade 11, Massachusetts

Caroline P., Grade 11, Massachusetts

Lauren R., Grade 11, Minnesota 

Mackenzie R., Grade 12, Georgia

Kristen S., Grade 11, New York

Joan W., Grade 12, Armed Forces Pacific 

Emily Z., Grade 11, Massachusetts. 

View the artwork of the thirteen finalists of the 2022 National Poetry Month Poster Contest for Students. 

The winning student, who will be announced in January 2022, will be featured on Poets.org and in American Poets magazine, and will receive $1,000 in cash and prizes. The runner-up will receive $250. 

About National Poetry Month 

National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and takes place each April. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, community centers, and poets celebrating poetry's vital place in our culture. The special month of programs is made possible by more than 70 poetry partners and sponsors, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts. 

About the Academy of American Poets  

Founded in 1934, the Academy of American Poets is the nation’s leading champion of poets and poetry with supporters in all fifty states. The organization annually awards more funds to individual poets than any other organization through its prize program, giving a total of $1.25 million to more than 200 poets at various stages of their careers. The organization also produces Poets.org, the world’s largest publicly funded website for poets and poetry; organizes National Poetry Month; publishes the popular Poem-a-Day series and American Poets magazine; provides award-winning resources to K–12 educators, including the Teach This Poem series; hosts an annual series of poetry readings and special events; and coordinates a national Poetry Coalition working together to promote the value poets bring to our culture.