Robert W. King Poetry Award
2026 Robert W. King Poetry Awards
Your Love Like a Ghostly Glow, a cento from the 2026 Robert W. King Poetry Awards
First Place
- Elliot Smith, “Things I Never Learned” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Jessica Hernandez, “My favorite fruit is cherries” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Toby Cain, “My Kind of Normal” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Madison Murphy, “Beauty Mark” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
Second Place
- Elena Miranda Campisi, “The price of a secret” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Jax Ramirez, “Lost in love” - Sponsor: Nathan Brandsma
- Jasmine Cisneros Quezada, “Rain” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Michael Yacobelli, “Mama” - Sponsor: Dr. T. R. Maher
- Isabella Negrete, “Decisions” - Sponsor: Nathan Brandsma
- Caleb Aldridge, “Empty Words” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Kato Lee Gomez, “Remember” - Sponsor: Michelle Ockman
- Nehema W. Gathere, “Small Moments” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Vivika Rivera, “Better Things” - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
- Alan.K.Leyva, Love - Sponsor: Melody Armstrong
2025 Robert W. King Poetry Awards
First Place
- Finn Hartley, “Echoes of a Distant Home" - Melody Armstrong, Northridge High School, Greeley
- Alissa Booth, “That Old Radio” - Melody Armstrong, Northridge High School, Greeley
- Elena Miranda Campisi, “Broke My Heart” - Melody Armstrong, Northridge High School, Greeley
Second Place
- Katherine Maxwell, “Bane of Wolves” - Melody Armstrong, Northridge High School, Greeley
- Maricela Magdalena Martinez, “Growing Up” - Melody Armstrong, Northridge High School, Greeley
- Jessica Hernandez, “Hopeful Immigrants” - Melody Armstrong, Northridge High School, Greeley
- Arlyn Hunt “Alone” - Melody Armstrong, Northridge High School, Greeley
2024 Robert W. King Poetry Awards
First Place, April 15, 2024
- Hiwie Garcia, “Your Favorite Color is Red,” Mr. Flores, Greeley West
- Leah Norton, “Temporary,” Mr. Shaha, Greeley West
- Karen Vicente Vicente, “El Arte de Mi Identidad/The Art of My Identity,” Mr. Shaha, Greeley West
Second Place, April 15, 2024
- Emily Cortina, “Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” Ms. Armstrong, Greeley West
- Emma Erickson, “You Are The Stars,” Ms. Kredo, Greeley West
- Joanna Galindo, “The Canvas Awaits,” Mr. Shaha, Greeley West
- Itzel Lozoya, “Bright Light,” Mr. Lothspeich, Greeley West
- Angel Marquez, “Disgust,” Mr. Shaha, Greeley West
- Jarran Molina, “E.Y.S.,” Ms. Armstrong, Greeley West
- Muhammed Mohamed Nasim, “Flickering Light,” Mr. Lothspeich, Greeley West
- Luis Isaac Vicente Ordonez, “Wisdom Tells of Its Life In Its Beginning and Its End,” Mr. Flores, Greeley West
- Dominic Salazar, “Puzzles,” Mr. Lothspeich, Greeley West
- Leah Sanchez, “What Should I Expect,” Ms. Armstrong, Greeley West
- Quinn Wilson, “I Am A Student,” Ms. Kredo, Greeley West
2023 Robert W. King Poetry Awards
First Place
- Alexander Lazarov Calhoun, “Born,” Greeley West, Jonathan Lothspeich (Teacher)
- Alexzander Hernandez, “The World Is A Flower,” Greeley West, Angel Flores (Teacher)
- Emma Nottis, “You,” Greeley West, Angel Flores (Teacher)
- Magda Guadalupe Mendez Sarinana, “Father,” Greeley Central, Tom Frasier (Teacher)
Second Place
- Kaylee Garcia, “My Experience As A Girl,” Greeley West, Angel Flores (Teacher)
- Anazae Lara, “This Is Where I Want To Be,” Greeley West, Angel Flores (Teacher)
- Juana Tomas Manuel, “La Promesa A Mi Abuela,” Greeley West, Angel Flores (Teacher)
2022 Winners
First Place
- Jasmin Conde Castillo. Teacher: Mr. Frasier, Greeley Central High School
- Lilyana Hinojosa. Teacher: Mr. Lothspeich, Greeley West High School
- Yessica Lopez. Teacher: Mr. Lothspeich, Greeley West High School
- Guadalupe Lucero. Teacher: Mr. Flores, Greeley West High School
- Brooklyn Quintana Teachers: Mr. Flores and Mrs. Winter, Greeley West High School
Second Place
- Jayden Gies. Teacher: Mr. Lothspeich, Greeley West High School
- Daisha Morales. Teacher: Mr. Frasier, Greeley Central High School
Elver Vicente. Teacher: Mr. Frasier, Greeley Central High School
2021 Winners
Poets of Color / Poems Celebrating Diversity
First Place
- Daniela Fernandez, Mr. Flores, Greeley West High School, No hay mal que por bien no venga
- Valeria Valdez Soto, Mr. Flores, Greeley West High School, More Than A Woman
- Alexa Bustamente, Ms. Hanna Hays, Center High School, I’ll Be Back
- Kimberly Muro-Ornelas, Ms. Hanna Hays, Center High School, Como Un Luchador
Second Place
- Yulia Gisell Henao Lozano, Ms. Varela, Greeley Central High School, Nacer de nuevo
- Juana Tomas Manuel, Mr. Flores, Greeley West High School, El Pájaro Misterioso de Mi Abuela
- Sarai Costilla Sanchez, Mr. Flores, Greeley West High School, Latinx
- Savana Long, Mr. Frasier, Greeley Central High School, Will
- Kailyn Kalana, Ms. Hanna Hays, Center High School, The time when I got kicked out of my house
- Fernando Morales-Cervantes, Center High School, Mi Tobillo
2020 Winners
First Place
- Jazz Jensen, Tom Frasier, Greeley Central High School, Sweetness in Iowa
- Nayeli Nunez, Tom Frasier, Greeley Central High School, Leaving
Second Place
- Alma N. Sanchez, Tom Frasier, Greeley Central High School, Limousines
- Aneliz Juarez, Tom Frasier, Greeley Central High School, La Última Quinceañera
- Maria T. Villagomez Contreras, Marie Beach, Greeley West High School, Fruta
Questions
Submit questions about the contest to Dr. Elizabeth Franklin at franklinbeth1309@gmail.com.
