This year marks the 10th annual poetry competition at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Winners, their families, and teachers will be celebrated on May 19th at a workshop and poetry reading. The day will consist of a  pre-reading session, reading of the winning poems, awards, and then time for families and winners to experience the museum. This year, 16 schools statewide submitted 575 student poems.

Winners in the poetry competition were named in elementary, middle and high school divisions. Of the three high school winners, two were Arrowhead students: junior Isabel Barth and senior Amanda Stahl.

This year the theme, 10 at MPM, revolved around the 10th anniversary of the competition and the 10 iconic exhibitions at the Milwaukee Public Museum. The 10 iconic exhibitions include the Hebior Mammoth, Humpback Whale Skeleton, Streets of Old Milwaukee, Butterfly Vivarium, Hell Creek, Native American Pow Wow, Crow Indian Bison Hunt, Maasai Lion Hunt, Crossroads of Civilization, and the Japanese House and Garden.

Staff for the event includes Lead Judge Richard Hedderman and Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Karla Huston. Both will also be reading at the event.

Students in English teacher Elizabeth Jorgensen’s creative writing classes submitted poems to the competition. Jorgensen says, “I am so happy for both Amanda and Isabel. Both are very talented writers who worked hard to perfect their poems. I hope you’ll take some time to read each girl’s poem. I think you’ll find them to be interesting, thoughtful, well-done and creative.”

Winning students will receive a certificate of achievement and a complimentary one-year family membership to the Museum.