"Excellence" 2025 National Student Poetry Contest
(Original Submission Deadline of April 30, 2025) - Winners Announced September 30, 2025.

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Click here to read the poems by the Division Winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place)

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Division I

(grades 3-5)​

 

Division Winner – Destiny Kelley

2nd Place – Summer Crozier

3rd Place – Selina Liu

 

Division II

(grades 6-7)​

 

Division Winner – Eliza Rodriguez

2nd Place – Emma Araceli Martinez

3rd Place –​ Ethan Cho

 

Division III

(grades 8-9)​

 

Division Winner – Anchal Verma

2nd Place – Amber Smith

3rd Place – Carly Hunt

 

Division IV

(grades 10-12)

 

Division Winner – Anaya Jain

2nd Place – Audrey Hickman

3rd Place – Anna Arnold

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Editor's Choice Award and Grand Prize Winner

Anaya Jain (Entry entitled “The Watchmaker's Hands”)

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"School's Out Shopping Spree" Winner

Kaitlyn Fenton (Entry entitled “Love/Hate”)

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Laptop Computer, Tablet, or Wireless Headphones Winner

Nathan Peters (Entry entitled “Space”)

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Amazon Gift Card Winners

Jeffrey Freel (Entry entitled “I Am”)
Gavin Gorin (Entry entitled “Freak!”)
Kaleb Hofer (Entry entitled “Family”)
Madi Tackett (Entry entitled “Softball”)
Marley Hickerson (Entry entitled “If I Died Tonight”)
Jake Paul (Entry entitled “Costco Guys”)
Zoey Plessner (Entry entitled “Pineapple”)
Olive Burnett (Entry entitled “Solarmy”)
Amber Abdur-Rauf (Entry entitled “Saturn's Rings”)
Grayson Garrett (Entry entitled “Why Do You Worry?”)​

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Top Educator Award Winners

Candice Carr of William Floyd Middle School in Moriches, NY
Charles Williams of Gadsden Elementary Magnet School in Quincy, FL
Tondalayo Clark of Wayne Preparatory School in Goldsboro, NC
Corrie Miller of Fountain Middle School in Fountain, CO
Adam Ahlgrim of Westinghouse Arts Academy in Wilmerding, PA
Kevin Salas of San Luis Middle School in San Luis, AZ
Erika Haas of Ottawa Elementary School in Petoskey, MI
Lauren Rodriguez of Harrison High School in Harrison, NJ
Julie Chambers of Bulloch Academy in Statesboro, GA
Stephanie Rushing of Cornerstone Christian School in Bellevue, NE​

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"Early Bird" Prize Winners

Hilary Lee of Monroe County High School in Tompkinsville, KY
Molly Calder of Edmunds Consolidated School in Dennysville, ME
Skylar Ellison of Melville Elementary School in Portsmouth, RI
Marni Baer of Mission Valley Christian School in Polson, MT
Robyn Maag-Blanding of Westran Middle School in Clifton Hill, MO
Kara Cosolito of Meadowbrook Elementary School in East Meadow, NY
Kaysie Smith of Lamoille Union High School in Hyde Park, VT
Paul Sauter of Ridgewood School in Springfield, OH
Kathryn Valenti of Nazareth School in San Diego, CA
Betsy Durand of Roxboro Christian School in Roxboro, NC
Laurie Runions of Timberlane Regional Middle School in Plaistow, NH
Carrie Johnson of Holy Cross School in Marine City, MI
Adam Gessler of St. Mary's Catholic School in Tomahawk, WI
Kylie Gempler of Salem Academy Charter School in Salem, MA
Jen Davidson of Tri-City United High School in Montgomery, MN
Kirk Odom of Saint Wendel Catholic School in Wadesville, IN
Jennifer Whitford of Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, FL
Miriam Kopenhafer of John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham, AL
Kailey Griffee of Cache High School in Cache, OK
Hailey Colligan of Bluffton Middle School in Bluffton, OH
Melanie Diego of Kohala Elementary School in Kapaau, HI
Frances Ohanenye of Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, TX
Emily Hardy of Independence Senior High School in Independence, KS
Peter Cooke of Memorial Middle School in Albany, OR
Mark Rauschert of Trinity Academy in Industry, IL​

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2025 Spirit of Education Award Winners

Eckstein Middle School in Seattle, WA
Tularosa Middle School in Tularosa, NM