The 50th Annual Polk County Schools Poetry Contest Awards ceremony took place on May 11, 2026, at Branscomb Auditorium on the Florida Southern College campus.
The milestone event celebrated middle and high school students, their families, and English teachers while marking exactly half a century of the district’s annual poetry publication. This year’s double-sided dual anthology featured original works from 254 student poets across grades 6 through 12.
Major Award Winners
- The Mary Mayberry Award for Excellence in Poetry (Middle School Overall): Received by Isabel Kramer, a 6th grader at Rochelle School of the Arts (taught by Kimberly Nolen). Her poem, “The Tour Guide’s Lie,” inspired the title of the middle school anthology edition: “America is a Beautiful, Giant Kite.”
- The Robert J. Fisher Award (High School Overall): Received by Isaiah Elias, a 9th grader at George Jenkins High School (taught by Lisa Dalton). His poem, “Limits to Muddy Repetition,” provided the high school anthology title: “We Choose Knowledge, Love, A Voice.”
First-Place Winners by Grade Level
GradeStudent PoetSchool / ProgramTeacher
12th GradeCelina MadhavathWinter Haven High School (Cambridge)Stacey Schubele
11th GradeTejwant ChauhanGeorge Jenkins High SchoolMichele Barr…