Poetry Contest

2026 Winners

3^rd – 5^th Grade: Audrey Bernhardt, 4th Grade, for "Martin's Dream"

6^th – 8^th Grade: Zsuzsanikah {Zuzu} Dunlap, 8th Grade, for "Martin Luther King Poem"

9^th – 12^th Grade: Jacob Holmes, 9th Grade, for "Poem for Martin Luther King JR"

The Town of Fountain Hills invites students attending school or residing in Fountain Hills in grades 3 through 12 to participate. This poetry competition will bring together the voices of the local youth with their reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy.

Prompt Ideas for Discussion:

• Option 1: “A World Where Everyone Belongs” 
  Dr. King dreamed of a world where everyone felt welcome.
  Write a poem about what a world of true belonging looks, sounds, or feels like.
• Option 2: “The Moment I Stand Up”
   Dr. King showed the world what it means to speak up when something is unfair.
  Write a poem about a moment, real or imagined, when you decide to stand up for what is right.
   This can be a personal experience, future vision, or symbolic moment.

• Option 3: “If Dr. King Walked Into My School Today…”
   Imagine Dr. King visiting your school or town.
  Write a poem about what he might see, say, or encourage you to do next.

Quotes to Inspire

• “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
•  “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
•  “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.”

Guidelines

One entry per student.

Submissions must be emailed to: rpreston@fountainhillsaz.gov

Email Submissions must include:

• Email Subject “Poetry Competition”
• Contact information (Name, Phone number, Age, Grade, and School)

All pieces must be original writing containing at least 15 words and at most 300 words.

Submissions will be accepted until Monday, January 8, 2026.

Judges from the History and Culture Advisory Commission will look for works that exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.
 
 The Town of Fountain Hills Community Services Department reserves the right to NOT select the following submissions:

• Work(s) that are offensive in subject matter.
• Work(s) that are not original in nature.
• Work that contains discriminatory, demeaning, or disparaging words towards an individual or group of individuals based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, disability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
• Work that contains descriptions of violence or an act(s) of violence or harm to a person or animals.

Winners, Ceremony & Prizes

One winner will be selected from each grade level category: 3rd Grade – 5th Grade, 6th Grade – 8th Grade, and 9th Grade – 12th Grade.

On Wednesday, January 20, 2026 winners will read their pieces at the Town Council Meeting around 5:45 pm and will be presented with a $150 gift card.