Mahwah Kids Win for Kilmer-Inspired Poems

As part of the township’s celebration of this year’s 100th anniversary of the writing of the Joyce Kilmer poem, “Trees”, the Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission offered a “Joyce Kilmer Poetry Contest” to Mahwah middle and high school students, as two separate school contests. 

In either poetry or prose,  the students’ entries were to express the sentiments of Joyce Kilmer or celebrate his life. The contest prizes, donated by were Barnes and Noble Booksellers’ Gift Certificates with first prize $100, second prize $50 and third prize $25.  

The High School contest winners are: Sara Zaat, First Prize for her poem titled, “Expertise," Kyle Dubiel, Second Prize for his poem titled, “Joyce’s Choice,” and Amy Naslonski, Third Prize, for her poem “ A Tribute to the Sentiments of Joyce Kilmer.”   

The Middle School contest winners are: Amira Arora, First Prize for her poem, titled  “Joyce Kilmer: One of  a Kind,” Aryaan Arora, Second Prize for his poem titled “Joyce Kilmer: Life At Risk,” and there is a tie for Third Prize, Justin Lazer for his poem titled “Just In Case,” and Sara Levitsky for her poem titled “Since the Love for Trees.”   

The contest winners received their prizes  and accolades at a special award ceremony held at the Mahwah Township Hall, this May. In addition to the Barnes & Noble gift certificates, Mahwah Mayor William Laforet presented each student with a Mayor’s “Diamond Club” membership certificate, in recognition of their achievement.     

The above was submitted by the Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission.