Five Peoria students win Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards
In The News
By Josh Seabaugh
September 8, 2025
This announcement was originally published on September 6 by CIProud nEWs.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Five young Peoria poets, from one school, will be celebrated after winning the statewide Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards.
At the time of their entries, the students — all girls — were in different grades and going to Whittier Primary School, according to a Peoria Public Schools spokesperson.
Five young poets from Peoria win statewide competition
They are among 25 winners and 12 honorable mentions selected for the 2025 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards, said Sarah Sommers, an Illinois Humanities spokesperson. This year’s contest saw 867 submissions from 187 schools throughout the state.
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