Alexandra Contreras-Montesano, a longtime Young Writers Project writer and senior at Burlington High School, has been named National Student Poet for the Northeast! This is the nation's highest honor for youth poets presenting original work. Alexandra traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to accept the honor with four other young writers from across the country who represent their areas as National Student Poets. Alexandra, known on YWP as angelaweasley, was chosen from among thousands of award-winning poets for this honor. Throughout the year, Alexandra will serve as a literary ambassador in the Northeast. She will share her passion for poetry and literacy with community groups, including Young Writers Project, where she has offered to lead workshops for her fellow YWPers! We'll follow soon with details and dates! (More info on the award here: https://www.artandwriting.org/national-student-poets-program/; and news release at end of this post)
The National Student Poets Program is an initiative in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. To be considered for appointment as a National Student Poet, students first must receive a National Medal from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The distinguished Student Poets will be appointed by IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew and Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden at a ceremony on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Other appointment events during the National Book Festival weekend include public readings of the National Student Poets’ work and a private conversation with 22nd U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith.
Congratulations, Alexandra!



[Illustration of YWP by Alexandra Contreras-Montesano, 2018]