A poetry contest for students in grades three through five, sponsored by the Alexandria branch of the National League of American Pen Women and Alexandria City Public Schools, was held at each of the city's 13 elementary schools. The top poets from each school recited their winning poems and received medals and certificates at the ceremony held in April.
Division-wide winners for each grade were:
*Anna Huston, grade 3, William Ramsay Elementary School, "In the Sky"
*Emma Bartley, grade 4, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, "Spring Time Wonders"
*De'Sean Wright, grade 5, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science, and Technology, "The Itch"
School winners were:
*Zannatul Ferdous, grade 5, John Adams Elementary School, "My Hero"
*Bianka Michalski, grade 5, Charles Barrett Elementary School, "The Wonder of an Afterlife"
*Natasha Branch, grade 5, Patrick Henry Elementary School, "Life Goes by Fast"
*Ajee Smith, grade 5, Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics, "Fly Away"
*Nelson Barahona, grade 4, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science, and Technology, "Civil War"
*Chris Fanous, grade 4, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, "Creamed Corn"
*Elaine Bledsoe, grade 5, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, "The Darkness of Desolation"
*Kelsey Spurio, grade 4, George Mason Elementary School, "The Gift of Birds"
*Calvin Heimberg, grade 3, Mount Vernon Elementary School, "It is Morning"
*Emma Augustine, grade 4, James K. Polk Elementary School, "The Tiny Seed is Cradled in the Baby's Little Hand"
*Ebony Hanna, grade 5, William Ramsay Elementary School, "Movements"
*Dominic Blakeney, grade 5, Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, "Magma"