New York, NY (January 19, 2022)— The Academy of American Poets, the originator of National Poetry Month, now a worldwide celebration, is happy to announce that eleventh grader Lara L. from Saunders Trades and Technical High School in Yonkers, New York, has been named the winner of the 2022 National Poetry Month Poster Contest. Lara’s artwork was selected by Rafael López, New York Times bestselling illustrator and artist, and Nikki Grimes, New York Times-bestselling author and poet, from among thirteen outstanding finalists and 170 student submissions. The Academy of American Poets will distribute 90,000+ free copies of the 2022 poster featuring Lara's artwork to libraries, schools, bookstores, homes, and community centers nationwide to help mark the occasion of National Poetry Month this April. The poster will also be available for free download.
As the winner of the contest, Lara will receive $1,000 in cash and prizes. She will also be featured in the April 2022 issue of American Poets magazine.