Norman High School student named Southwest region's National Student Poet

Cheyenne Derksen, The Oklahoman
Updated ·1 min read
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Norman High School
Norman High School

Five high school students across the nation have been selected as this year's National Student Poets, including one from Oklahoma.

The program, founded over a decade ago, is the nation’s highest honor for young poets presenting original work. Each winner represents a different region in the country and brings their own distinctive background and perspective.

Representing the Southwest region of the country is Kallan McKinney from Norman High School. McKinney is a queer and trans poet from Norman, who uses writing to explore identity and communication.

Kallan McKinney of Norman High School has been named one of five high school students across the nation selected as this year's National Student Poets.
Kallan McKinney of Norman High School has been named one of five high school students across the nation selected as this year's National Student Poets.

Representing the remaining four geographical regions of the nation, the 2023 National Student Poets are:

  • Jacqueline Flores (Southeast), Fort Meade Middle Senior High School, Zolfo Springs, Florida.

  • Miles Hardingwood (Northeast), Hunter College High School, Brooklyn, New York.

  • Shangri-La Hou (Midwest), John Burroughs School, Saint Louis, Missouri.

  • Gabriella Miranda (West), Rowland Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah.

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The National Student Poets Program is a partnership of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, presenter of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, from which the winning poets were selected.

“The smart, engaging, imaginative poetry of these five young poets will be an inspiration to their peers and their elders as it has been to the judges and the IMLS. We are proud to present them to our country,” Crosby Kemper, director of the museum and library institute, said in a statement Wednesday.

The student poets, each of whom receive $5,000, will help oversee workshops, readings and other activities. Previous poets have appeared at the White House and Lincoln Center among other venues.

Contributing: Hillel Italie of The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Norman High School student named region's National Student Poet