48th Annual New York Browning High School Poetry Contest
Winners & Shortlist — 2026
The New York Browning High School Poetry Contest is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s awards. Now in its forty‑eighth year, the contest continues to celebrate the power of youth voice, the vitality of language, and the enduring legacy of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
From hundreds of submissions across the city, these twelve young poets distinguished themselves through originality, craft, emotional clarity, and artistic courage.
WINNERS (Top 6)
• Ria Shivam — A Small Arrangement Hunter College High School
• Katerina Bala — The Whitewash James Madison High School
• Justin Lee — The Glass Gardener Hunter College High School
• Ninuola Osunmakinde — Blinded Light Brooklyn Friends School
• Lilah Pfeiffer — Ode to Dunmore Mary Louis Academy
• Serenity Dingwall — Don’t Cry Stuyvesant High School
SHORTLIST (6)
• Gloria Chan — Dreaming of Mom Hunter College High School
• Alexandra Anthony — Spring Sky: A Villanelle Mary Louis Academy
• Alyona Riley — Squirrel is Белка in Russian Hunter College High School
• Ellery Schalk — A Hypothetical Journey for Happiness Notre Dame High School
• Alexi Varah — Gravity Hunter College High School
• Aiden Muniz — El Corredor Seco Monsignor Farrell High School
Closing Note
This year’s poets demonstrated extraordinary range — from intimate lyric to political witness, from formal mastery to bold experimentation. We congratulate all twelve honorees and extend our admiration to every student who submitted work.
Their voices remind us why poetry matters, and why it continues to thrive in New York City’s schools.
We ask for all of this years winners to attend our Award Ceremony on May 13th at Jefferson Market Library at 6pm. We also would extend an invitation for our shortlisted winners to join us as well and perform their poems. A collection of the winners and shortlisted poets work will be available at the event, and we look forward to seeing and hearing all of you next week!
Thank you for all of your submissions and we look forward to next years competition!
Cheers,
James Browning Kepple
President
New York Browning Society
www.nybrowning.org
The New York Browning Society 