Exemplary Past Submissions
Below are some exemplars of award-winning submissions from 2026. These students received 100% scores from each judge who read their pieces and had high praise for the quality of writing.
Each submission below is a response to the prompt for the 2026 awards, titled “The Joy and Power of Reading.”
*The examples below are meant to be used as inspiration to teachers and their students for the purposes of this award and to showcase the excellent work of these students. Please do not share or copy these students’ work improperly.*
Anqi Geng
“So nice to read a poem with depth of meaning written by a young poet.”
Anqi Geng is a passionate storyteller whose work focuses on the formation and evolution of identity. She works across various genres and disciplines, blending in different aspects of her life experiences.
Shanasha Sinclair
“The response demonstrates exemplary command of language, unique and authentic voice, and intentional and well-executed organizational structure.”
Shanasha “Sanny” Sinclair is a dedicated young author who specializes in story writing, novels and poems. She writes with a refreshing style that is entirely her own, turning ordinary real-life experiences into fascinating storytelling. She believes that powerful storytelling can change circumstances and she wants to use her authentic self-expression to inspire the next generation of readers.
Selena Vu
“Exceptionally crafted and thoughtfully developed piece!”
Selena Vu is a rising junior attending Lake Braddock Secondary School, where she is both a student and tennis athlete. Calling Virginia her home, she discovered a profound interest with writing at a young age and immerses herself with every project in hopes to craft something meaningful. Apart from allocating time between school, extracurriculars, and writing, she finds the most joy in making memories with family, scrapbooking, and watching Korean films for prolonged periods during her free time.