Amber Hargett, Engagement Librarian

The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library was proud to host the 2023-2024 Young Poets Contest Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 6:30 pm. The annual contest is in its twenty-fifth year and is sponsored by the Kinston-Lenoir County Friends of the Library. 

The contest is open to all Lenoir County fourth and fifth grade students. The Library received 299 entries with ten schools participating.  For each grade level ten prizes were awarded: first place, second place, third place, and seven honorable mentions. Winners were awarded a $35.00 Amazon gift card for first place, $25.00 for second place, $20.00 for third place, and $10.00 for honorable mention.  First, second, and third place winners also received a mounted copy of their poem, and all winners received an award certificate and a copy of the booklet of winning poems. Each young poet read his or her poem at the awards ceremony, and it was a pleasure to celebrate the creativity and writing talent of our local students.

Fourth Grade Winners:

First Place: Olivia Muzychka, Northwest Elementary School

Second Place: Xiomara De La O Garcia, Banks Elementary School

Third Place: Malaysia Johnson, Banks Elementary School

Honorable Mentions

Quinn Austin, Banks Elementary School

Decatur Cox, La Grange Elementary School

Autumn Creel, Southwood Elementary School

Teagan Davis, Pink Hill Elementary School

McKenna Long, Banks Elementary School

Aniyah Porter, Northwest Elementary School

Korbin Swinson, Moss Hill Elementary School

Fifth Grade Winners:

First Place: Kourtini Olds, Northwest Elementary School

Second Place: Hazlee Pridgen, Arendell Parrott Academy

Third Place:   Samantha Deluna Peralta, La Grange Elementary School

Honorable Mentions

Alex Brougher, Arendell Parrott Academy

Jackson Edwards, Arendell Parrott Academy

Christian Johnson, Northwest Elementary School

Buddy Manley, La Grange Elementary School

Adam Mills, La Grange Elementary School

Ava Wade, La Grange Elementary School

Lilly Yannotti, Banks Elementary School

Poetry is a wonderful and challenging form of creative expression with limitless variations. All of our local young poets presented poems that made readers and listeners experience a wide range of emotions, from joy and laughter to fear and sadness. They allowed our imagination to paint incredibly vivid pictures. Poetry is powerful and these talented students showed us why. 

For more information about Youth Services programming and services at Neuse Regional Libraries, please call 252-527-7066, Ext. 133 or visit our website at neuselibrary.org.

4th Grade Winners 

Teagan Davis, Korbin Swinson, Xiomara La O Garcia, McKenna Long, Malaysia Johnson, Quinn Austin, Decatur Cox, and Aniyah Porter

5th Grade Winners

Buddy Manley, Christian Johnson, Kourtini Olds, Ava Wade, Lilly Yannotti, Hazlee Pridgen, Alex Brougher, and Jackson Edwards