2023 POetry Contest Winners
These are the top finalists for each category. Each school had a representative to compete for the Grand Prize. The Grand Prizes were determined by a panel of three judges: Rhonda Herring from Oregon City Schools Foundation, Barratt Miller from Oregon City Public Library, and Amanda Coffey from Clackamas Community College. The winners are listed below.
Elementary / Middle School
Grand Prize Winner:
August Orchard
”Three Haikus”
High School / Staff / Community Member Grand Prize Winner:
Clinton Springer, OCHS Staff
”Tornado, Sullivan IN, 4/1/23”
Beavercreek Elementary
(No Submissions)
John Mcloughlin Elementary
August Orchard
”Three Haikus”
Elementary Schools
Candy Lane Elementary
Obasi Kalu Obasi
”Where I am From”
Redland Elementary
Miller Morris
”Diamond Back Rattle Snakes”
Gaffney Lane Elementary
June Merrill
”The Love Garden”
alliance Charter Academy
(No Submissions)
Holcomb Elementary
Sawyer Searle
”Turtles and Birds”
Springwater Environmental Sciences School
(No Submissions)
Gardiner Middle School
Sophie Isabella Bauwens
”War of the Thorns”
Middle Schools
Tumwata Middle School
Lauren Kline
”All the Beauty”
Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences
Henry Berkner
”Untitled”
alliance Charter Academy
Isaac R. Evans
”Bad Luck”
Springwater Environmental Sciences School
(No Submissions)
Oregon City High School
Lydia Strawser
”Where I am From”
High Schools
Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences
Olivia Smith
”I Stand Here”
Oregon City Service Learning Academy
Rebekah Long
”High Functioning”
alliance Charter Academy
Logan J. Bouchard
”If I Die Young”
OCSD Staff & Community Members
Staff Member
Celina Gutierrez, Candy Lane
”Todos Unidos”
Staff Member
Clinton Springer, OCHS
”Tornado, Sullivan IN, 4/1/23”
Community Member
Robert Cody
”Widow’s Walk”