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.

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Winners are Ryan Mohney of Ligonier Valley Middle School for “All about Earth!” (grades 4-6), Becca Codner of Marshall Middle School in Wexford for “Not a Morning Person” (grades 7-9) and Kathryn Mi of North Allegheny High School for “the prelude begins inside the mouth” (grades 10-12).

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Grades 4-6

The winners of the Paul Spencer and Kathleen Brittain Poetry Award for rhymed verse (sponsored by Paul S. Brittain) are Anthony Barbera of the Valley School of Ligonier (first prize for “A Day in the Snow”), Jessica Mack of Ligonier Valley Middle School (second prize for “Battle through Life”) and Emma Cruz, also of Ligonier Valley Middle School (third prize for “The Quivering River”).

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Winners of the Glenda Busch Memorial Award for unrhymed verse (sponsored by Jim Busch) are all from Ligonier Valley Middle School: Carter Gunn (first prize for “Monday”), Katrina Bennett (second prize for “Comfort Zone”) and Evan Penrose (third prize for “Baseball Fright”).

All three winners of the Henry Clay and Gladys Maas Pruitt Award for haiku (sponsored by Candace Green) are from Ligonier Valley Middle School: Emma Package (first prize for “Dreaming”), Jarett Krupper (second prize for “Shadow Catcher”) and Scout Hinton (third prize for “Beyond the Darkness”).

Grades 7-9

First-prize winner of the Highview Farm Award for traditional verse (sponsored by Sally Shirey) is Jack Edwards of Belle Vernon Area Middle School for “Covid Birthdays.” Second-prize winner is Mackenzie Birchak of Wendover Middle School for “I Know Your True Fear.”  Third-prize winner is Taylor Beech of Belle Vernon Area Middle School for “Nature’s Goodbye.” 

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First-prize winner of the Shirey Poetry Award for free verse (also sponsored by Sally Shirey) is Mallory Wasicek of Belle Vernon Area Middle School for “Smile.”  Second-prize winner is Grace Gardner of Wendover Middle School for “Home Is . . .” Third-prize winner is Daniel Kissell of Wendover Middle School for “Kindness Speaks.”

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First-prize winner of the Ogden Nash Award for light humorous verse (sponsored by Anita Staub) is Zach Plymire for “The Mustard and the Ketchup.” Second-prize winner is Spencer Anderson for “Jealous Jelly.” Third-prize winner is Mona Brooks for “Chasing Flies.” All three winners attend Belle Vernon Area Middle School. 

Grades 10-12

In Grades 10-12, the first-prize winner of the Dr. Len Roberts Memorial Award for traditional verse (sponsored by Ruth McDonald) is Audrey Starck of North Allegheny High School for “Heart over Matter.” Second-prize winner is Ashley Cumpston of Norwin High School for “Weathered.” Third-prize winner is Jacob Orlofske of Keystone Oaks High School for “Familiar Scene.” 

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Kathryn Mi of North Allegheny High School won first prize in the Hayden Savinda Memorial Award for free verse (sponsored by Ronald J. Shafer) for “all the courses of our family values are written between the lines of my suicide notes and my father’s will.” Second-prize winner is Audrey Starck of North Allegheny for “Wings of Lead.” Third-prize winner is Abigail Wolfgang of Greater Latrobe Senior High School for “She Won’t Be There.”

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First-prize winner of the Marie Martin Memorial Award for romantic poetry (sponsored by Phil and Mary Lou Fleming) is Audrey Starck of North Allegheny for “Our Perfect.” Second-prize winner is Olivia Belcher of North Allegheny High School for “Syringa x Laciniata.” Third-prize winner is Alcameana Kennedy of Albert Gallatin High School for “Shattered.”

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One student, Audrey Starck, won three awards: first prize in both categories G and I and second in H. Kathryn Mi won the Naccarato Award for Grades 10-12 (as she did last year) as well as first prize in categories G and I. Special congratulations to Audrey and Kathryn.

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Four teachers had multiple winners in their classes: Kelly Ankney of Ligonier Valley Middle School, Carol Aten Frow of Belle Vernon Middle School, Janelle Lombardi of North Allegheny High School, and Jaime Gacek of Wendover Middle School. Congratulations and thanks to them as well for encouraging their students to write and to enter the contest every year.