Youth Poetry Ambassador Lourdes Nicolella and Deputy Ambassador Adi Gamache have chosen the winners of the Bob Oberg Youth Voice Poetry Contest!
1st Place – Seoyon Kim
Poem: Suburban Birds
2nd Place – Jacquelyn Song
Poem: Still
3rd Place – Ivy Linardos
Poem: Tom
Honorable Mention – Emet Jewett
Poem: Window
Honorable Mention – Emmett van Leer
Poem: The Ballad of Georgie Buttons
This initiative was sponsored by Bob Oberg, a Rhode Island poet and author who dedicated his career to providing equitable educational opportunities for youth in Rhode Island. He sponsored the contest to “encourage youth to develop their voices and to recognize them for their achievements.” Oberg said, “I appreciate Tina Cane using her position as Poet Laureate to champion youth and am honored to provide an incentive for young people to have their voices heard.” The contest was open to Rhode Island students in grades 7-12, with a $500 first prize, a $250 second prize, a $150 third prize, and two $50 honorable mentions and there were close to 100 entries. Rhode Island Poet Laureate, Tina Cane, commented, “we are amazed and heartened by the enthusiastic response to this contest. Rhode Island has a lot of talented young people who love poetry and we thank everyone who submitted for putting their work out there.”