Carl Sandburg College has announced the winners of the 37th annual Sandburg Poetry Competition, a regional contest named for poet and Galesburg native Carl Sandburg.

First- through third-place winners and honorable mentions were selected in four categories: elementary (grades K-5), junior (grades 6-8), intermediate (grades 9-12) and adult. Award winners were invited to attend a banquet April 30 in the Student Center on Sandburg’s Galesburg campus.

According to contest guidelines published by the college in previous years, the competition recognizes original, unpublished poetry submissions from students and adults across the region.

Some of the winners and honorable mention recipients in the 37th annual Sandburg Poetry Competition pose for a photo at Carl Sandburg College. The annual contest recognizes original poetry submissions in student and adult divisions. (Photo courtesy of Carl Sandburg College)

This year’s winners included:

Elementary
First place — “When It Rains” by Eva Godina
Second place — “ABC Poem about My Baby Brother” by Raeley Lee
Third place — “I Wish” by Louisa Kamerer
Honorable mention — “My Class is a Zoo” by Sutton Boley
Honorable mention — “No One’s Life is Perfect” by Baylor Leffler

Junior
First place — “Caged Canary” by Stella Bennett
Second place — “Dear Grandma” by Vida Wilcox
Third place — “War” by Ethan King
Honorable mention — “Blooming with Time” by Nael Morales Medina
Honorable mention — “I am from” by Addison Hawk

Intermediate
First place — “Dear Earth” by Apolonia McClure
Second place — “The Echo We Carry” by Kaleia Pulse
Third place — “Stories” by Lily Heitz
Honorable mention — “The Woods” by Lillian Rogers
Honorable mention — “Shallow Ribs” by Katelin Rohlfes

Adult
First place — “Silent Scene” by Gary Armstrong
Second place — “La Harpe, Illinois” by Tricia Owsley
Third place — “Unity” by Kristy Ordoña
Honorable mention — “Prairie” by Darrin Ross
Honorable mention — “Goodbye…Or Something Like It” by Christopher Bell.