New York, NY (December 6, 2018)—The Academy of American Poets is pleased to announce the twelve finalists of the first-ever National Poetry Month Poster Contest for Students. More than 460 high school students from across the country responded to an open call for submissions, and twelve students from nine states have been named finalists. The winning student, to be determined by Academy Chancellor Emeritus Naomi Shihab Nye and renowned graphic designer Debbie Millman, will have their artwork featured on 100,000 posters that are distributed to schools, libraries, and bookstores nationwide for the April 2019 celebration. In previous years, the poster has featured artwork by award-winning illustrators and designers Maira Kalman, Roz Chast, and Chip Kidd, among others. For the first time in twenty-two years, the official National Poetry Month poster will feature artwork by a high school student in 2019.
The finalists are:
Ethan A., Grade 12, New York
Katie C., Grade 10, Georgia
Naya C., Grade 12, California
Erin G., Grade 11, California
Kailah G., Grade 12, Ohio
Hyowon K., Grade 12, Massachusetts
Mackenzie R., Grade 12, Wisconsin
Maya Angela S., Grade 12, Pennsylvania
Rachel S., Grade 11, Colorado
Chaya T., Grade 9, New Jersey
Julia W., Grade 10, California
Susan Z., Grade 9, Tennessee
View the artwork of the twelve finalists of the 2019 National Poetry Month Poster Contest fot Students.
Each finalist will recieve a copy of American Journal, an anthology of fifty contemporary poems selected and with an introduction by U. S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith, published by Graywolf Press.
The winning student will receive $500, a $500 gift certificate to Blick Art Materials, supplies from Sakura Color Products of America, and signed copies of books by this year's judges, Naomi Shihab Nye and Debbie Millman. The student will also be featured on Poets.org and in American Poets magazine.
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
The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. The organization produces Poets.org, the world's largest publicly funded website for poets and poetry; National Poetry Month; the popular Poem-a-Day series; American Poets magazine; Teach This Poem and other award-winning resources for K-12 educators; and an annual series of poetry readings and special events.
The Academy of American Poets is part of a national poetry coalition working together to promote the value poets bring to our culture and the important contribution poetry makes in the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds.