The results are in! After reading 244 poems from 117 people, The Palm Writers Group in Sorrento has chosen the winners of the 17th Annual East Lake County Library Poetry Contest.
This year’s contest ran throughout April as part of National Poetry Month. Everyone was welcome to enter, regardless of age or experience. Entrants were encouraged to submit multiple poems on any topic for a chance to claim the top prizes. This year’s submissions came from neighboring cities like Leesburg and Clermont, to cities far away, including Houston, Texas and Red Bug, Illinois. Several participants have entered the contest before, while a great number entered for the first time this year.
“I started this contest as a way to promote poetry in our community and bring awareness to the arts,” said Scott Amey, library assistant at the East Lake County Library. “The contest has grown so much over the years. It’s amazing to see what talents lie out there.”
The Palm Writers’ Group has been judging the contest’s poems for several years. Poems were judged based on content, flow, and originality.
All first place winners received a $50 gift certificate to Books-A-Million. Runner-ups received a $25 gift certificate to Books-A-Million, and third place winners received a $15 gift certificate to Books-A-Million. Those who earned honorable mentions were mailed a certificate of recognition. All entries were given a certificate of participation for their contributions. The Friends of the East Lake County Library, a non-profit group, funded the prizes.
The winners are:
Adult participants (age 19+)
| 1st place |
Kailey Albritton |
Vow |
Mascotte, FL |
| 2nd place |
Jennifer Clark |
Silent Tears |
Tavares, FL |
| 3rd place |
C. David Hay |
The Wall |
The Villages, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Elaine Person |
Scrabble |
Orlando, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Eva Kovacs |
If our souls were like music |
Howey-in-the-Hills, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Emily Ross |
All the Marbles |
Tavares, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Marc Rissman |
I Touched a Star |
The Villages, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Kathy Philpot |
Lazy Winter Day |
The Villages, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Jake Beahan |
Friday Night in the Woodcut Town |
Tavares, FL |
Teen participants (age 13 - 18)
| 1st place |
Brittany Pflanz |
The Oleander Tree |
Clermont, FL |
| 2nd place |
Nayla Delgado |
Muse |
Clermont, FL |
| 3rd place |
Asa Newby |
Far From Home |
Altoona, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Molly Smith |
I Don't Know |
Clermont, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Kari Schmitz |
The Storm |
Eustis, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Connor Eickelman |
Blank Paper |
Clermont, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Penelope Duran |
When You Were Younger |
Houston, TX |
| Honorable Mention |
Ethan Gruner |
Dawn |
Eustis, FL |
Child participants (age 12 and under)
| 1st place |
Traci El Sabbagh |
Greatest Show |
Lady Lake, FL |
| 2nd place |
Adrian Newby |
Poem of Sorts/Photos |
Altoona, FL |
| 3rd place |
Andrea Reyes |
Macbeth |
Leesburg, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Shruthi Inamdar |
The Delicious Tooth Monster |
Leesburg, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Ephram Stevens |
The Lizard |
Howey-in-the-Hills, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Walker Clark |
The Fire's Might |
Leesburg |
| Honorable Mention |
Alexa Foxx |
Mourning in the Morning |
Mount Dora, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
William Schmitz |
Fishing |
Eustis, FL |
| Honorable Mention |
Max Allen |
My Car Grayson |
Leesburg, FL |
The winners will read their poems during Poetry Night at the East Lake County Library on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 6pm. Their poems will also be available on the librarys website in the coming weeks.
Interested in judging or becoming a writer? The Palm Writers' Group is open to the public and meets at the East Lake County Library every third Saturday at 10am. Contact them at palmwrtersgroup@aol.com.
Missed this year's competition? No need to fear! The competition will return next spring. Also check the library's website for year-round poetry events and activities: www.mylakelibrary.org.