Interlake Students Among New Poet's Society Award Winners

From the :

Fifty-six people gathered at  on April 22 for the New Poet’s Society Award Ceremony honoring high school students from Redmond, Interlake, and Eastlake high schools.

Jen Mauck, director of the RHS English Department, hosted the event. She is also Redmond’s yearbook and newspaper adviser and teaches creative writing. 

Rick Smith, president of the New Poet’s Society, made the announcement of contest winners who received scholarship funds for their continuing education. Each finalist was given an opportunity to read his or her poem to those in attendance.

This year, 532 were in attendance at presentations by the New Poet’s Society in their respective schools. Of them three hundred three students submitted poems for consideration in this year’s contest.  

Winners of this year’s event include Nick Halvorson, a student at Interlake High School, winner of the Judge’s Choice Award of $1,000. His poem entitled “The Apology,” was selected by all three judges as the overall best entry to receive top honors.

All other prizes were for $500; winners include Maddie Immel, who won the Mark DiRe Award for the second year in a row for her poem, “Lovesick.” She also attends Interlake High School. 

Winner of the second Mark DiRe $500 scholarship went to Kyla Smart, who attends Redmond High School. Her poem is called, “Color.”

Marina Weber, who attends Eastlake High School, was awarded a $500 scholarship gift for her poem, “Addicted to Blood.”

Taking home another $500 scholarship is Redmond High School’s Bria Burditt. Her winning poem is called “Constant.”

Our sixth $500.00 prize was awarded to Emma Islip, a student at Eastlake High School. Her poem entitled “To Laugh at Gilded Butterflies.”

Olivia Berlin, a student from Interlake High School, won our seventh scholarship gift for a poem entitled “In Front of the Mirror.”

A final $500.00 scholarship was awarded to Brooke LeFevre. She attends Redmond High School. Her poem was identified as “The Flare.”

Student writers will be given opportunities to recite their work at poetry readings in the local area. The public is always invited to attend those venues. Check local listings for times, dates, and information on featured readers. Check , in Redmond, Park Place Books, in Kirkland, and , in Redmond (R.A.S.P).