Winners and honorees of the 2026 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for Kids & Teens gather at Hugh’s View rooftop following the awards ceremony at The Studios of Key West. By Mark Hedden.

KEY WEST, FL — The Studios of Key West recently recognized eight outstanding young writers during the 2026 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for Kids & Teens, celebrating creativity, imagination, and literary achievement among students throughout Monroe County.

This year’s contest received more than 240 submissions from young poets across the Florida Keys, including 151 entries in the Kids Division and 95 entries in the Teen Division. From those submissions, twelve poets were selected for awards by judges Flower Conroy, former Key West Poet Laureate, and artist and writer Kalo Clarke.

The contest is administered annually by The Studios of Key West through the generosity of the Jeane and Jessie Porter Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. The program encourages young writers to explore poetry while honoring the legacy of longtime supporters of education, literature, and youth throughout the island chain.

 

 

2026 award recipients included:

Kids Division

•           First Place: Kash Neighbors, age 12

•           Second Place: Cosette Curtis-Pape, age 10

•           Third Place: Emmy Mitova, age 7

•           Honorable Mentions: Henry Schnapp, age 12; Darel Brenes Perez, age 8; Serenity Magee, age 10

Teen Division

•           First Place: Taylor Thomason, age 15

•           Second Place: Molly McKnight, age 18

•           Third Place: Jackson Mitchell, age 16

•           Honorable Mentions: Hanalei Laitila, age 13; Ismael Moreno, age 13; Rachel Stewart, age 17

“The creativity, vulnerability, humor, and imagination found in these poems was truly inspiring,” said Michelle Boscamp, Associate Director of Marketing & Advancement at The Studios of Key West. “Every student who submitted work demonstrated courage by sharing their voice, and we’re proud to celebrate the next generation of writers in our community.”

The awards ceremony was held at The Studios of Key West and included readings by several of the winning poets, followed by a reception for students, families, teachers, and supporters.

Photo Caption: Winners and honorees of the 2026 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for Kids & Teens gather at Hugh’s View rooftop following the awards ceremony at The Studios of Key West. By Mark Hedden.

For more information about youth programs at The Studios of Key West, visit The Studios or contact Michelle Boscamp at michelle@tskw.org or 305-509-7903.

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