Poetry often serves as a source of inspiration during challenging times, whether poets are trying to understand moments like the horrors of war or personal tragedies. This Spring Florida Humanities encouraged high school students across the state to creatively capture their experiences through the prism of poetry for our 2020 High School Poetry Contest. We received over 200 submissions.

With the help of a judging panel who evaluated all the submitted poems, our top ten was selected.

Florida Humanities awarded three students each receiving a $500 Cash Prize, publication in a future issue of our FORUM Magazine, and the opportunity to share their poem at a public program!

Congratulations go to:

  • Judge Pick: Balance by Zoey Mazur, 12th Grade, West Port High School.
  • Public Pick: And What If I Don’t? by Flora Ranis, 12th Grade, American Heritage School.
  • Staff Pick: Thief by Su Ertekin-Taner, 10th Grade, The Bolles School

Thank you to all the students who submitted their poems, we are proud of you all!

Read the Top Ten Poems

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