Poet Laureate

Look for our Updates Coming Soon!

Congratulations to our 2023 Winners:

1st Place: Ghufran Abd – Poem: WAKE UP

2nd Place: Bridget Johnson – Poem: LUCK

3rd Place: Kara Dummit – Poem: September 1st, 2021

About Poet Laureate

The Poet Laureate Competition is an annual county-wide poetry competition for high school students hosted by Forsyth Educator Partnership in conjunction with WS/FCS.

The competition augments the WS/FCS English curriculum, and serves as an opportunity for students to showcase spoken word skills to a broader audience. Winners receive a small monetary cash award, and publication of their works in the print journal Fresh Voices Rising.

The annual Fresh Voices Rising Chap book is illustrated by high school art students who are highlighted and recognized also.

The competition is in its eleventh year and has created an avenue of creative expression for hundreds of students.

2019 Poet Laureate Competition Winners

First Place: Marianna Flores, Atkins High
Second Place: Miyarah Robertson, Atkins High
Third Place: Mauriah Turner, Reagan High

As a writer who grew up attending WS/FC schools, I know the importance of encouraging and praising young poets… That early encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue the writing that has become my career and a source of strength, hope, and healing in my life.

Rhett Iseman Trull

Editor, Cave Wall Press

More About This Program

This project is produced in partnership with WS/FCS. It augments high school English Curriculum while providing a creative avenue for students. Each year the poetry is published in Fresh Voices Rising chapbook that is illustrated by high school artists.

Buy the 2019 chapbook, Fresh Voice Rising.