To celebrate National Poetry Month and Oklahoma, the Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry conducts an annual Oklahoma Poem Contest, with cash prizes and medals for the winners. Prizes are given out each year at Wonder City Wordfest in Locust Grove. Winners do not need to be present.

THE DEADLINE for entries has passed. Thanks to all who entered! We had 182 wonderful entries this year. And here are the winners:

Oklahoma Poem Contest Winners 2021

K-5^th Grade

1. Easton King, Lawton, Epic Charter School
2. Panashe Mushonga, Oklahoma City, Home-Schooled
3. Evan Foresman, Yukon, Independence Intermediate

6^th-8^th Grade

1. Hayden Barrowman, Norman, Whittier Middle School
2. Mykayla Shearer, Chickasha, Friend School
3. TIE: Kyler Nida, Harrah, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School
   and Hannah Joo, Norman, Terra Verde Discovery School

9^th-12^th Grade

1. Emma Cinocca, Tulsa, Jenks High School
2. Lucas Buzzelli, Claremore, Claremore High School
3. TIE: Kayley Ray, Lenapah, Oklahoma Union
   and Kaitlyn Pierce, Nowata, Oklahoma Union

Adult

1. Jen Handsel, Tulsa
2. Kathy Snyman, Locust Grove
3. Emily Geest, Stillwater
   Honorable Mention: Kathryn Lawler, Norman

The winning poems for 2021 can be read in THIS DOCUMENT. Prizes will be mailed to the winners! The winning poems will also be on display in the museum.

The Oklahoma Poem Contest takes place every year with a deadline in early April.

Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry
2020 Oklahoma Poem Contest Winning Poets

Adult

1^st, Aunika Anderson, Spiro
2^nd, Jacquelyn Magrady, Tulsa
3^rd, Zachary Wilhite, Claremore

9^th-12^th Grade

1^st, Kaylee Bowman, Grove
2^nd, Justin Herlan, Bluejacket
3^rd, Harley Lee, Bluejacket

5^th-8^th Grade

1^st, Aurora Parks, Pryor
2^nd, Ashlie Nguyen, Yukon
3^rd, Zack Strong, Yukon

K-4^th Grade

1^st, Jediah Harrison, Grove
2^nd, MeKenzie Smith, Yukon
3^rd, Silas Jackson, Grove

Oklahoma Poem Contest 2020: Winning Poems

2019 Oklahoma Poem Contest Winners

Adult

1^st, Hannah Ewton, Claremore

2^nd, Darron Dunbar, Oklahoma City

3^rd, Mary McCloskey, Oklahoma City

9^th-12^th

1^st, Palmer Strubhar, Piedmont

5^th-8^th

1^st, Lahna Erwin

2^nd, Ivy Snyder

3^rd, Ashley Smith

K-4^th

1^st, Zack Strong, Yukon

2^nd Alexander Spruill, El Reno & Kaylee Porter, Yukon

3^rd, Leslie Bernal, Tulsa

CLICK HERE to see photos by Zack Strong’s grandfather Lonnie Rickey at Wonder City Wordfest

2019 OK Winning Poems

Poem by Darron Dunbar

2018 Oklahoma Poem Contest Winners

Photographs of the winners who were at the ceremony can be found HERE.

 Category: K-5^th Grade

1^st
Aurora Parks, Roosevelt Elementary, Pryor

2^nd
Amelia Hanlan, Independence Elementary, Yukon

3^rd (tie)
Madison Mennecke, LGUE, Locust Grove

Parker Hensley, Independence Elementary, Yukon

Category: 6^th-8^th Grade

1st
Erin Bendabout, LGMS, Locust Grove

2nd
Jerah Bighorse, LGMS, Locust Grove

3^rd (tie)
Miranda Blossom, LGMS, Locust Grove

Mya Phillips, LGMS, Locust Grove

Category: 9th-12th Grade

1st

Jasmine Alverado, Emerson South, Oklahoma City

2nd
Sierra Murphy, LGHS, Locust Grove

3rd
Audra Cunningham, LGHS, Locust Grove

Category: Adult

1^st
Casey Mclerran, Sapulpa

2^nd
Debra Martin, Edmond

3^rd
Hannah Eaton, Claremore

You can read all of the winning poems in a pdf by clicking HERE.

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