Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Young East Haven Poets' Work Celebrated


The community room at Hagaman Memorial Library was brimming with fine poetry and poets this past Tuesday, when the library held its 11th Annual Student Poetry Awards Ceremony. At this year's event, the following award winners were announced.

First Place:

• Grade 3 - Ann Marie Abbott, St. Vincent de Paul School

• Grade 4 - Sophia Carlone, East Haven Academy

• Grade 5 - Jadon Lozada, Momauguin School

• Grade 6 - Tim Keth, Joseph Melillo Middle School

• Grade 7 - Joseph Milano, Joseph Melillo Middle School

• Grade 8 - Christy Robinson, St. Vincent de Paul School

Honorable Mentions:

• Grade 3 - Aimee Lynn DiVerniero, St. Vincent de Paul School

• Grade 4 - Ishan Patel & Michael Dion, both from St. Vincent de Paul School

• Grade 5 - Jianna Clement & Tattiana Mojica, both Momauguin School; Amanda Hopkins, Ross Woodward Magnet School of Classical Studies

• Grade 6 - Aldric Joseph & Jenna Souza, both Joseph Melillo Middle School

• Grade 8 - Scott Krebs & Jamie Ferrucci, both St. Vincent de Paul School

The contest was open to all students in grades 3-8 who reside in East Haven, including home-schoolers and magnet school attendees.

The contest was started in 2001 by children's librarian Carolyn Siedzik.

"And we dedicate it to her memory as she inspired young poets at Hagaman for almost 30 years," Sascha Gardiner, the current children's librarian, said.

Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. was on hand to present the awards and prizes. And shoreline poet Jason Marchi served as Master of Ceremonies.

Both had some words of wisdom for "our proudest resource, the wonderful kids of East Haven," Gardiner said.

Friends of the Library members Palma Ruggiero, Regina D'Addio and Lorraine Burns had the arduous task of choosing winning poems from more than 230 submissions, Gardiner said.

She added that they wish to send a hardy congratulations to all of the spectacular student poets.

This article first appeared in the East Haven Patch, April 30, 2012: http://easthaven.patch.com/articles/celebrating-poetry-month-in-style-at-hagaman-library