The Dallas Pubic Library announced the winners of the 19th annual Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition and Cover Art Contest last month. All 62 poetry finalists were invited to read their poems and receive their awards at the April 25 ceremony. The five cover-art finalists had their work on display, and the winning art will serve as the cover for a published anthology of the finalists’ poems.
Selected finalists also had their poems read aloud during the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas spring concert on April 26 at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
The next contest opens Sept. 20. Students in grades 2-12 are invited to participate. Find information at www.dallaslibrary.org/poetry.
Listed below are the finalists who attend Dallas ISD schools.
Cover Art Finalists
Irving Sanchez, 12th grade, Townview High School
Than Zaw Oo, eighth grade, Sam Tasby Middle School
Meera Poudel, seventh grade, Sam Tasby Middle School
Ashley Zamora, fourth grade, Maple Lawn Elementary School
Giovanny Torres, third grade, Leila P. Cowart Elementary School
Poetry Contest Finalists
Second grade
Sha’Myracle Miller, Whitney M. Young Elementary School
Kiara Miles, Whitney M. Young Elementary School
Jimmy Baysinger, Whitney M. Young Elementary School
Nariah Harrison, Whitney M. Young Elementary School
Zamyriah Blackwell, Kleberg Elementary School
Rosa Lauree Hernandez, John H. Reagan Elementary School
Jennifer Guadalupe Salazar, John H. Reagan Elementary School
Third grade
Pedro Arres, John H. Reagan Elementary School
Ayanna Hammonds, Reinhardt Elementary School
Erycah High, Whitney M. Young Elementary School
Julian Espinoza, Whitney M. Young Elementary School
Alyn Veliz, William B. Miller Elementary School
Fourth grade
Alexa Brianna Gonzalez, John H. Reagan Elementary School
Fifth grade
Mikayla Avinda Widhelm, William B. Travis Academy/TAG
Jesus Duarte, John H. Reagan Elementary School
Sydney Lynn Gutwein, William B. Travis Academy/TAG
Samuel Hooper, William B. Travis Academy/TAG
Sofia Hatto, William B. Travis Academy/TAG
Amelia Marie Canright, William B. Travis Academy/TAG
Joshua Dillon Reyes, William B. Travis Academy/TAG
Vivian May Bull, William B. Travis Academy/TAG
Brayn Tapia Rodriguez, F.P. Caillet Elementary School
Myzel Walton, Whitney M. Young Elementary School
Jamyrea Williams, J. P. Starks Math, Science and Technology Vanguard
Dimitri Bennett, Robert L. Thornton Elementary School
Sixth grade
Nsikan Abasi, Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Grayson Decker, Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Thomas John Lee, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Seventh grade
Reagan Robinson, Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Mariana Bustillo, Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Eduardo Leija, Billy Earl Dade Middle School
Jonathan Jimenez, Robert T. Hill Middle School
Eighth grade
Marc Anthony Griffin, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Jeff Ross Jones, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Cale Marcus Watkins, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Angel Armendariz, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Cristal Torres, Billy Earl Dade Middle School
Ninth grade
Roberto Gamiz, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Vasti Galvan, Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School
Yovany Marin, L. G. Pinkston High School
10th grade
Michael Evans Ellis, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Nickalas Jerrett Lampkin, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
Annie Nelson, Woodrow Wlson High School
11th grade
Heriberto Caro, Skyline High School
12th grade
Wendy Montserrat Acosta, Rosie M. Collins Sorrells School of Education and Social Services
Vivianne Marie Puentes-Hernandez, Moises Molina High School
Amy Vanessa Alvarez, L. G. Pinkston High School
Orlando Silva, School of Business and Management at Townview
Sandra Balderas, Justin F. Kimball High School
