Photo caption: Winners of Ligonier Valley Writers’ Student Poetry Contest 2025.

Front row, left to right: Josie Reichard (West Hempfield Middle School), John Fassett (Jeannette Junior High School),

Maia McIntyre (Norwin High School), Holly Deal (Eagle View Elementary School), Caiden Steffey (Ligonier Valley Middle School), Frankie Branscum (Indiana Junior High School), Ella Huss (Ligonier Valley Middle School).

Middle row, left to right: Reese Brennan (Jeannette Junior High School), Vada Boyd (Chartiers Valley Middle School),

Madigan Smith (Ligonier Valley Middle School), Sanyah Redford (Southmoreland Middle School)

Back row, left to right: Sawyer Newhouse (Norwin High School), Jacob Harris (Derry Area Senior High School), Arianna Long (Jeannette High School), Emily Hicks (Franklin Regional High School), Kasia Ewing (Derry Area Senior High School),

Cherith Smith (Homeschool)

​

Not Pictured: Madison Ewing (Albert Gallatin Area High School), Mila Ramsey (Ligonier Valley Middle School), Brooke Hugland (Belle Vernon Area Middle School), Addison Dominick (Belle Vernon Area Middle School), Tyler Perozzi (Belle Vernon Area Middle School), Sophia Trunzo (Greater Latrobe Senior High School), Denver Workman (Albert Gallatin High School), Nevaeh Greenawalt (Derry Area Senior High School), Natalie Montecupo (Trafford Elementary School), Tanner Ziolko (Ligonier Valley Middle School)

​

Naccarato Awards: The Best of the Best

The John T. Naccarato Memorial Award, sponsored by Michele Jones, is awarded for the poem that is judged the best of the best in each age group. Winners are Holly Deal of Eagle View Elementary School for “Wonderful World” (grades 4-6), Reese Brennan of Jeannette Junior High School for “Concerts” (grades 7-9) and Kasia Ewing of Derry Area Senior High School for “Eagle Nebula” (grades 10-12).

 

Grades 4-6

Winners of the Jane Robb Gallagher Memorial Award for rhymed verse (sponsored by Judith Gallagher) are: First Prize, Madigan Smith of Ligonier Valley Middle School for “Shadows to Talk to.” Second Prize, Ella Huss of Ligonier Valley Middle School for “My Canvas.” Third Prize, Cherith Smith (homeschool) for "Ducks and Swans."

 

Winners of the Glenda Busch Memorial Award for unrhymed verse (sponsored by Jim Busch) are: First Prize, Frankie Branscum of Indiana Junior High School for “Tomorrow's Canopy.” Second Prize, Natalie Montecupo of Trafford Elementary School for “The Color Blue.” Third Prize, Ella Huss of Ligonier Valley Middle School for “My Style.”

​

Winners of the Henry Clay and Gladys Maas Pruitt Memorial Award (sponsored by Candace Green) for haiku are: First Prize, Caiden Steffey of Ligonier Valley Middle School for "Secret Identity." Second Prize, Tanner Ziolko of Ligonier Valley Middle School for "Page Turner." Third Prize, Mila Ramsey of Ligonier Valley Middle School for "Nature Reading."

 

Grades 7-9

Winners of the Highview Farm Award (sponsored by Sally Shirey) are: First Prize, Brooke Hugland of Belle Vernon Area Middle School for "The Heart of the Field." Second Prize, Arianna Long of Jeannette High School for "A Day at the Beach." Third Prize, Addison Dominick of Belle Vernon Area Middle School for "Disney's Monorail."

​

Winners of the Shirey Poetry Award (sponsored by Sally Shirey) are: First Prize, Sanyah Redford of Southmoreland Middle School for "I see things." Second Prize, Vada Boyd of Chartiers Valley Middle School for "Breathe." Third Prize, Josie Reichard of West Hempfield Middle School for "Aunt Kate Is an Angel."

​

Winners of the Ogden Nash Award (sponsored by Anita Staub) are: First Prize, Tyler Perozzi of Belle Vernon area Middle School for "Oh No! My Sock Is Missing!" Second Prize, John Fassett of Jeannette Junior High School for "Vinegar Valentine." Third Prize, Addison Dominick of Belle Vernon Area Middle School for "Goofy Goose."

 

Grades 10-12

Winners of the Dr. Len Roberts Memorial Award (sponsored by Ruth McDonald) are: First Prize, Madison Ewing of Albert Gallatin Area High School for "Eternity's Loom." Second Prize, Sophia Trunzo of Greater Latrobe Senior High School for "We Walk by Faith." Third Prize, Denver Workman of Albert Gallatin High School for "Whispers of Nature."

​

Winners of the Hayden Savinda Memorial Award (sponsored by Ronald J. Shafer) are: First Prize, Sawyer Newhouse of Norwin High School for "I Am." Second Prize, Emily Hicks of Franklin Regional High School for "A Chivalrous Parallel." Third Prize, Nevaeh Greenawalt of Derry Area Senior High School for "In Loving You, I found a Love for Me."

​

Winners of the Marie Martin Memorial Award (sponsored by Phil and Mary Lou Fleming) are: First Prize, Maia McIntyre of Norwin High School for "Sonnet 101." Second Prize, Kasia Ewing of Derry Area High School for "Your Audience." Third Prize, Jacob Harris of Derry Area Senior High School for "A Single Drop."

 

​

Congratulations and thanks to all of the teachers involved for

encouraging their students to write and to enter the contest.

​

The awards were presented at a ceremony at the Greensburg Barnes & Noble.

The student poets read their winning poems aloud to the audience.

​

SEE WINNING POEMS

​

Ligonier Valley Writers is an all-volunteer nonprofit group serving writers and readers throughout western Pennsylvania. For more about any LVW events, publications, and writing contests, visit www.LVWonline.org or LVW’s Facebook page.