2022 Annual Brooks Poetry Prize Competition

Thursday, May 12—Nine Winsor students from Class IV and Class V demonstrated their public speaking skills in the annual Brooks Poetry Prize competition during today’s all-school Assembly. The competition is a Winsor tradition that dates back to 1909, which was established by Clara G. Brooks—a “great friend” of Miss Winsor’s. 

Brooks funded the reading and writing prizes in 1913. Additionally, her daughter and granddaughters later attended Winsor including Rachel Brooks Jackson ’02, Madeline Jackson Emery ’35, and Clara Jackson Murfey ’39.

“The Brooks Poetry Prize competition encourages students to read poetry and to practice public speaking,” said English Department Head Courtney Jackson, “and it gives us all a chance to listen to some poetry together as a community.” New this year, in addition to reciting a verse of their choosing, Class V students offered a reflection elaborating on why they selected a particular poem.

In the preliminary rounds, held during English classes, every Class IV and Class V student chooses a poem to recite. One student from each class section was chosen to compete in the final round and present their poem in front of the school at Assembly. Readers are judged on their degree of thorough understanding, clear articulation, and expression. The guidelines encourage students to “look for a poem to which you genuinely respond.”

The 2022 finalists included:

Class IV

Elina Suri ’26 reading “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley

Lauren Folker ’26 reading “A Litany for Survival” by Audre Lorde

Zora Chirunga ’26 reading “Equality” by Maya Angelou

Angelina Fang ’26 reading “And Soul” by Eavan Boland 

Class V

Sawyer Bowen-Flynn ’25 reading “Emily Dickinson at the Poetry Slam” by Dan Vera 

Nora Forlong ’25 reading “Religion” by Martha Foote Crow

Amber Renthal ’25 reading “Just Walking Around” John Ashbery

Celeste Mittelman ’25 reading “The Yellow Star that Goes with Me” by Jessica Greenbaum

Aleena Bacorro ’25 reading “Momotaro in the Philippines” by Marianne Chan

The 2022 judges of the Brooks Poetry Prize competition include the Director of the Virginia Wing Library Alice Stern, English Faculty and Class VII Dean David Griffin, and Associate Director of College Counseling and Class VIII Dean Jennifer Graham. The Class IV winner will be announced during the Class IV Lower School Closing Ceremony, and the Class V winner will be announced during the annual Awards Celebration.