2022/2023 PST STUDENT POETRY CONTEST WINNERS
High School Division
1st Place: “The Story of Us” by Angelene Sta. Cruz, Concord Academy, Memphis
2nd Place: “elegy for the orange market” by Addyson Owens, West Ridge High, Blountville
3rd Place: “[come up with a better title later]” by Kate Rutherford, Houston County High, Erin
4th Place: “ROYGBIV” by Sammy Smith, West Ridge High, Blountville
5th Place: “Let Me Tell You Why I Seem Optimistic, But Really, I Am Uneasy” by Angela Jefferson, Cascade High, Bell Buckle
Honorable Mentions:
“Thank You” by Keri Cochran, West Ridge High, Blountville
“Beauty in Command” by Tanner Gross, West Ridge High, Blountville
“Decaying Beauty” by Kaelyn Kelly, Houston County High, Erin
“Stop Stargazing” by Kensley Boone, Houston County High, Erin
“Skywatcher” by Carolina Richardson, Houston County High, Erin
“Once, I Climbed a Tree” by Heidi Laramy, Madison Academic High, Jackson
“The Fight” by Mia Campochiaro, Concord Academy, Memphis
“eulogy from the dead” by Frankie Bond, Houston County High, Erin
”Beneath the Faerie Circle” by Riley Rutherford, Houston County High, Erin
Judge: Connie Jordan Green
Middle School Division
1st Place: “Where I’m From” by Quinn Alderman, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “Theseus and Aegeus” by Harrison Nickele, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
3rd Place: “They See” by Loara Coleman, Ivy Academy, Soddy Daisy
4th Place: “What Fall Means to Me” by Emmaline Strong, Saint Henry School, Nashville
5th Place (tie): “Thanksgiving” by Hayes Dombroski, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis, and “Summer on Glass Lake” by Jack Moran, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
Honorable Mentions:
“Freefall” by Libby Link, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
“Fall” by Marin Colley, Saint Henry School, Nashville
“Jellyfish” by Ilyssa Tilley, Ocoee Middle School, Cleveland
“My Crystal Light” by Sarah Burton, Saint Henry Middle School, Nashville
“The Ironic Poem” by Zac Sayer, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
“Sick” by Isabella McAuley, Saint Henry School, Nashville
“Cold Winter” by Trenton Brumfield, Ivy Academy, Soddy Daisy
“Birds Will Remain” by Oneira Caviness, White Station Middle School, Memphis
“The Art of Lying” by Abby Albonetti, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
“Xena” by Gracie Lirette, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
Judge: Heather Hoover
Elementary Division
1st Place: “Dear Poem” by Nickie Downey, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “The World” by Braelynn Taylor, Bradford Elementary, Bradford
3rd Place: “Beach” by Morgan Cushing, Columbia Academy, Columbia
4th Place: “Hermosa Mariposa / Beautiful Butterfly” by Mary Karis Parrman, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
5th Place: “La Naturaleza / Nature” by Kylee Kemmet, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
Honorable Mentions:
“Peluches” by Sara Garcia, St. Peter’s Episcopal School, Chattanooga
“Honguito / Mushrooms” by Isla Phillips, St. Peter’s Episcopal School, Chattanooga
“A Savannah Afternoon” by Kylee Huskey, Covenant Academy, McMinnville
“Stick with Me” by Duke Sims, Prospect Elementary, Cleveland
“Sunrise Haiku” by Cora Belle Pulley, Columbia Academy, Columbia
“Calendars” by Chloe Zebell, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
“I Miss You” by Tucker Winfield, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
“The Pesky Fly” by Adelyn Bradford, Bradford Elementary, Bradford
“Long Walk to God” by Olivia Ford, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“As the Seasons Fade” by Ellee Griffin, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“One Shot” by John Garcia, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“Seasons” by Jeffrey G. Dean, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“Seasons Fleeting” by L. J. Longo, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
Judge: Isabel Sobrino Gómez
Many thanks to all entrants, to teachers and parents, and to judges for making this event such a success.
High School Division
1st Place: “The Story of Us” by Angelene Sta. Cruz, Concord Academy, Memphis
2nd Place: “elegy for the orange market” by Addyson Owens, West Ridge High, Blountville
3rd Place: “[come up with a better title later]” by Kate Rutherford, Houston County High, Erin
4th Place: “ROYGBIV” by Sammy Smith, West Ridge High, Blountville
5th Place: “Let Me Tell You Why I Seem Optimistic, But Really, I Am Uneasy” by Angela Jefferson, Cascade High, Bell Buckle
Honorable Mentions:
“Thank You” by Keri Cochran, West Ridge High, Blountville
“Beauty in Command” by Tanner Gross, West Ridge High, Blountville
“Decaying Beauty” by Kaelyn Kelly, Houston County High, Erin
“Stop Stargazing” by Kensley Boone, Houston County High, Erin
“Skywatcher” by Carolina Richardson, Houston County High, Erin
“Once, I Climbed a Tree” by Heidi Laramy, Madison Academic High, Jackson
“The Fight” by Mia Campochiaro, Concord Academy, Memphis
“eulogy from the dead” by Frankie Bond, Houston County High, Erin
”Beneath the Faerie Circle” by Riley Rutherford, Houston County High, Erin
Judge: Connie Jordan Green
Middle School Division
1st Place: “Where I’m From” by Quinn Alderman, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “Theseus and Aegeus” by Harrison Nickele, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
3rd Place: “They See” by Loara Coleman, Ivy Academy, Soddy Daisy
4th Place: “What Fall Means to Me” by Emmaline Strong, Saint Henry School, Nashville
5th Place (tie): “Thanksgiving” by Hayes Dombroski, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis, and “Summer on Glass Lake” by Jack Moran, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
Honorable Mentions:
“Freefall” by Libby Link, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
“Fall” by Marin Colley, Saint Henry School, Nashville
“Jellyfish” by Ilyssa Tilley, Ocoee Middle School, Cleveland
“My Crystal Light” by Sarah Burton, Saint Henry Middle School, Nashville
“The Ironic Poem” by Zac Sayer, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
“Sick” by Isabella McAuley, Saint Henry School, Nashville
“Cold Winter” by Trenton Brumfield, Ivy Academy, Soddy Daisy
“Birds Will Remain” by Oneira Caviness, White Station Middle School, Memphis
“The Art of Lying” by Abby Albonetti, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
“Xena” by Gracie Lirette, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
Judge: Heather Hoover
Elementary Division
1st Place: “Dear Poem” by Nickie Downey, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “The World” by Braelynn Taylor, Bradford Elementary, Bradford
3rd Place: “Beach” by Morgan Cushing, Columbia Academy, Columbia
4th Place: “Hermosa Mariposa / Beautiful Butterfly” by Mary Karis Parrman, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
5th Place: “La Naturaleza / Nature” by Kylee Kemmet, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
Honorable Mentions:
“Peluches” by Sara Garcia, St. Peter’s Episcopal School, Chattanooga
“Honguito / Mushrooms” by Isla Phillips, St. Peter’s Episcopal School, Chattanooga
“A Savannah Afternoon” by Kylee Huskey, Covenant Academy, McMinnville
“Stick with Me” by Duke Sims, Prospect Elementary, Cleveland
“Sunrise Haiku” by Cora Belle Pulley, Columbia Academy, Columbia
“Calendars” by Chloe Zebell, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
“I Miss You” by Tucker Winfield, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
“The Pesky Fly” by Adelyn Bradford, Bradford Elementary, Bradford
“Long Walk to God” by Olivia Ford, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“As the Seasons Fade” by Ellee Griffin, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“One Shot” by John Garcia, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“Seasons” by Jeffrey G. Dean, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
“Seasons Fleeting” by L. J. Longo, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
Judge: Isabel Sobrino Gómez
Many thanks to all entrants, to teachers and parents, and to judges for making this event such a success.