Eight MAGE students received recognition on September 19, 2026 in the 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards, a statewide competition that received more than 1,000 submissions!
Congratulations to our winners, honorable mentions, and finalists:
Kindergarten
Winner: Evelyn L. — “Happy Birthday, Mom!”
Honorable Mention: Emi L. — “Special Time”
Finalist: Ella Z. — “My Pillow”
First Grade
Winner: Yimi L. — “Octopus”
Winner: Manshu W. — “Violin”
Finalist: Shaelyn Z. — “Dawn”
Second Grade
Winner: Everly K. — “The Earth”
Honorable Mention: Caleb C. — “Beautiful Planet”
The awards honor Illinois poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black Pulitzer Prize winner, and celebrate the creativity of young writers. As Brooks wrote: “They worked hard. They created. And that is what is important.”
That spirit lives in every MAGE poet who participated. We’re proud of your imagination, hard work, and willingness to share your voice!
