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2020 Vision+Voice Winners!

It wasn’t easy because there were so many great poems to choose from, but our team of judges did an excellent job of picking the best poems for recognition. Congratulations to this year’s winning poets!

More big announcements are coming soon – STAY TUNED!

For now, here are the winning poems of the 2020 Vision+Voice Poetry Contest, broken down by grade and featuring our new award category: Comadres’ Choice Award.
Happy reading!

COMADRES’ CHOICE AWARD
Una Noche Buena en México by Ines G.
Ridgetop Elementary, Sarah Ruttan

Lo que pasa en otras casas by Eduardo T.
Popham Elementary, Alessandra Abraham

Las campanas de alegría by Maliena M.
Popham Elementary, Alessandra Abraham

KINDERGARTEN
The World of Kindness by Camille R.
Ridgetop Elementary, Angela LaFuente

FIRST GRADE
Rainbow Fight by Ezra G.
Dawson Elementary, Amelia Crawford

SECOND GRADE
Bees by Isla J.
Ridgetop Elementary, Alexis Zehner​​​

Flitter and Flutter by Evaline H.
Brentwood Elementary, Theresa Wood

I Dream by Ahan G.
Cactus Ranch Elementary, Mrs. Dwyer

THIRD GRADE
Clouds by Daniel C.
Boone Elementary, Christina Tapia

Black by Reagan M.
Chandler Oaks Elementary, Andrea Hutlock

Pool or School by Maple W.
Highland Park Elementary, Alyssa Absher

FOURTH GRADE
The Grand Canyon by Anishka K.
Cactus Ranch Elementary, Eva Brazle

Poetry by Jennifer S.
Fern Bluff Elementary, Shelly Wooldridge

FIFTH GRADE
Peace by Zoe M.
Spicewood Elementary, Carl Alman

Trees are the Real Heroes by Asvini T.
Brushy Creek Elementary, Kelly Williams

Gift of Water by Nihar B.
Pasty Sommer Elementary, Corianna Gagliardi

SIXTH GRADE
Ballad of the Dove by Beatrix L.
Lively Middle School, Cassidy Rhodes

What to do When You’re Invincible by Maya G.
Lively Middle School, Minnie Fisher

SEVENTH GRADE
Dyslexia by Harrison
Gorzycki Middle School, Carie Juettner

My Sorrows, My Surety, My Star by Megan T.
Gorzycki Middle School, Veronica Carter

Check Up by Collin J.
Gorzycki Middle School, Carie Juettner

Silent Night by Izzy B.
Gorzycki Middle School, Carie Juettner

Sakura Leaves by Daniel A.
Gorzycki Middle School, Carie Juettner

EIGHTH GRADE
Resistance by Ella C.
Pearson Ranch Middle School, Vicki Caldwell

Fencing by Issa D.
Murchison Middle School, Sara Brennan

Inspiration by Joaquin B.
Murchison Middle School, Susan Worob

NINTH GRADE
Letter to the Past by Grey N.
Rouse High School, Amy Hicks

The End of Time by Katelyn O.
Cedar Park High School, Nancy Steele


TENTH GRADE
Rot by Lily P.
Rouse High School, Rob Bass

Sky Myths by Bev S.
Rouse High School, Nicole Porter

The Movie Around Me by Nashitha A.
Westwood High School, Brooke Parks

ELEVENTH GRADE
Hydroplane by Ava M.
Liberal Arts and Science Academy, Christina Swan

Rest Away, Not Away by Kuba B.
Cedar Park High School, Kristin Burke

To Fly by Triambika D.
Westwood High School , Courtney Hulsey

TWELFTH GRADE
De Seizoenen by Rebecca D.
Rouse High School, Cynthia Acevedo

Perfect Spiral by Thiago L.
Westwood High School, Missy Martinez

Growing Up by Judy Z.
James Bowie High School, Bree Rolfe

The Nest by Isabella G.
James Bowie High School, Bree Rolfe

Greetings from Poetryland!

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s Vision+Voice Poetry Contest has had more submissions than any other year in our 7 year history.
WAY TO GO, POETS!
Our judges will now begin carefully going through all 750+ poems to select the very best for recognition.

Winners will be announced on February 15 – stay tuned for the big announcement!

Let the Poems Begin

Welcome to another year of Vision+Voice!

The submission window for the 2019-20 Vision+Voice Poetry Contest has closed. Winners will be announced on February 15.

Here are some important dates and details:

  • Submission Deadline – December 31, 2019
  • Winners Announced – February 15, 2020
  • Award Reception – April 17, 2020
  • All kindergarten through 12th grade students in the ACC service area are invited to participate.
  • Poems of all languages are welcome.
  • All poetry submissions will be published on the Vision+Voice website.
  • All winning and honorable mention poems will be published in the 2020 Vision+Voice Anthology.
  • One winning poem per grade will be combined with artwork by ACC students to create posters.

If you have been itching to get your poems out into the world and be a published writer, now is the time. Whether you have written one poem or twenty poems, we want to read them. You have until the end of the year to submit your poems, so it is time to flex those poetry muscles and let the creativity flow!

Remind your parents, teachers, and friends about this year’s Vision+Voice Poetry Contest so that we can beat last year’s submission count. Last year, we had over 700 submissions from almost every school in ACC’s service district – you can help us beat that number!

Feeling stuck? Check out this quick article with 36 tips for writing awesome poetry: https://www.writingforward.com/poetry-writing/poetry-writing-tips !

If you are a teacher (or parent) and want to know how to spread the word about V+V please email info@visionandvoice.org.

WOW – That Was Fun!

Thanks so much to all who attended the Awards Reception on Friday – we packed the house (mall) with poets and their entourages. Great food + great speakers + great videos = happy families. We had a blast and hope you did, too!

I know everyone’s anxious to see the red carpet photos from the event, but they’re not quite ready yet. In the meantime, please enjoy these photos that were taken at KLRU studios on the famous ACL stage.

Super-stars, one and all!

If you took photos at the event and would like to share them, please send them to pmonear@austincc.edu.

TONIGHT!

We are SUPER-EXCITED about our big party tonight to celebrate the poets who participated in the 2019 Vision+Voice Poetry Contest.

SEE the posters!
READ the anthology!
MEET your fellow poets!
WATCH the poetry videos!
GLAM IT UP on the red carpet!

If you know someone who wants to be here tonight but can’t make it, please share this link to the event live stream. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to share the refreshments via technology, so we really hope you can be here in person.

Did I mention that we’re SUPER-EXCITED?!

Image result for super excited



It’s (almost) time to celebrate!


It’s a big party and we want you to be there!

We’re SO EXCITED to unveil this year’s poetry posters and the Vision+Voice Anthology, and we can’t wait to show you the great videos that KLRU created for us.

Friday, April 26
7-9pm
ACC Highland Campus, Building 4000
6101 Highland Campus Drive Austin, TX 78752

Come ready for red carpet photos, great food, and live music.

No RSVP required – all are welcome!

2018-19 Winners

Image result for trophy

We are very happy to present the winners of the 2019 Vision+Voice Poetry Contest! Congratulations to the poets who shared their voices and created these wonderful poems. Thank you to the teachers and parents who encourage and guide these young poets.

Here are the the winners:

Kindergarten Winner: OK by Avery S.
Honorable Mention: Autumn by Clayton Y.
Honorable Mention: Fall by Leo S.

First Grade Winner: Insects are Wonderful by Saanvi V.
Honorable Mention: Colors by Alchemy D.
Honorable Mention: Lawn Mower by Alchemy D.
Honorable Mention: The Colors of Fall by Maliha K.

Second Grade Winner: I am still me by Maple W.
Honorable Mention: Dusky Thoughts by Aldus C.
Honorable Mention: As Good As You Are by Ines G.
Honorable Mention: Hate Burned Out by Hudson R.

Third Grade Winner: The Asteroid by Joseph C.
Honorable Mention: Green by Callahan T.
Honorable Mention: Nature by Sawyer S.
Honorable Mention: La nina y el pajarito by Daniela R.

Fourth Grade Winner: A Fall Walk by Norah H.
Honorable Mention: River by Stella S.
Honorable Mention: “I won’t be satisfied” says my kitten by Nessa D.
Honorable Mention: El perro y la luna by Lian H.

Fifth Grade Winner: Yellowstone by Phidias B.
Honorable Mention: The Sapling by Beatrix L.
Honorable Mention: bird by Eloise A.
Honorable Mention: The Price of the US by Emmy W.

Sixth Grade Winner: The Sea by Ahmory H.
Honorable Mention: Love Letter by Harper J.
Honorable Mention: Coral by Didion C.

Seventh Grade Winner: Cactus Poem by Noah L.
Honorable Mention: Shooting Stars by Hadley S.
Honorable Mention: Curiosity by Nicole P.

Eighth Grade Winner: One With the City by Gibson H.
Honorable Mention: Somewhere Far From Home by Talitha S.
Honorable Mention: The First Time by Jessica V.
Honorable Mention: Obicham Te by Boriana S.
Honorable Mention: History Books by Claire M.

Ninth Grade Winner: An Accidental List by Grace S.
Honorable Mention: I am alive by Andrea H.

Tenth Grade Winner: Hackneyed by Brenna E.
Honorable Mention: Anticipation by Daphna B.
Honorable Mention: Steampunk Embodiment by Torri G.

Eleventh Grade Winner: The Difference by Riley H.
Honorable Mention: Hold My Weight by Shira F.

Twelfth Grade Winner: Hubris from 35000 Feet by Amy S.
Honorable Mention: The Rain by Rowan S.
Honorable Mention: Paper Dreams by Amy S.
Honorable Mention: Silence in the Museum by Payton B.
Honorable Mention: Aquarium Dreams by Payton B.

Dean’s Choice Award: El Sol by Samantha R.

Provost’s Choice Award: Dust by Ray C.

Stay tuned for more news about how we will celebrate these poets!




Are you looking . . .

Are you looking for Vision+Voice? Maybe you want to submit a poem? Read a poem? Look at last year’s winning poets? Point your browser to the new home of the K through 12 poetry competition:

https://k12.visionandvoice.org

Why did we move, you ask? Well, we’re growing, both in the number of schools that are included in the Vision+Voice family, but also in the types of projects we’re creating.

My original idea for Vision+Voice was to include all the schools and ISDs in the ACC service area, celebrating the visions and voices in our communities. We’re aiming for that goal, adding schools every week! If you know of a private school, public school, school school, or even home-school school — let them know about us! Our competition is open to any K-12 student in the ACC service area! We want you!

But our vision always included other voices, too. This year, we’re working on an amazing new project with men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. We want vets to have a voice here, and so we’re creating a memoir project. More on that project as it develops!

Visit us again. We’ll let you know more about our new ideas as they develop. And if you have ideas for Vision+Voice, we want to hear from you! Email me at mdaude@austincc.edu.

Finally, to our poets, here’s an old one: Write on.

Matthew Daude Laurents
Dean, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Communications

Welcome back!

Welcome to a new year of Vision+Voice!

The 2018-19 competition is just starting, so get those creative juices flowing and make a poem!

You may have noticed that we’ve moved. Our new home is

https://k12.visionandvoice.org

Why did we move, you ask? Well, we’re growing, both in the number of schools that are included in the Vision+Voice family, but also in the types of projects we’re creating. We’ll let you know more about some of our new ideas as they develop.

Meanwhile, this is the home of our famous K through 12 poetry competition. Selected poems from each grade level will be paired with art by ACC art students to create posters and an anthology. And as in years past, KLRU will be videotaping our poets, and we’ll be celebrating our young authors at the spring reception. (Date is coming soon!)

So, sit back, relax, create, submit, and read some poems!

Thanks to our partners and supporters! We couldn’t do it without you!