Kids & Teens

Our Own Expressions

Poetry Winners

Grades 7 & 8

1st Place: Kaylina Warren, Sumner Middle School 

2nd Place: Alexa Kotansky, Kopachuck Middle School 

3rd Place: Natalie Bates, Aylen Junior High School

Grades 9 & 10

1st Place: Clarisse Fowlkes, Bellarmine Preparatory

2nd Place: Audrianna Rouse, Emerald Ridge High School 

3rd Place: Olivia Lathrom, Bethel High School

Grades 11 & 12

1st Place: Benita Kisembo, Curtis Senior High School 

2nd Place: Lily Tamminga, Covenant High School 

3rd Place: Honor Tamminga, Covenant High School

Drawing Winners

Grades 7 & 8

1st Place: Tia Norman, Giaudrone Middle School 

2nd Place: Chelsea Bass, Key Peninsula Middle School 

3rd Place: Erika Rusak, Sumner Middle School

Grades 9 & 10

1st Place: Iris Rogel, Bonney Lake High School 

2nd Place: Julia Clarke, Gig Harbor High School 

3rd Place: Charlotte Southworth, Stadium High School

Grades 11 & 12

1st Place: Sam Johnson, Bethel High School 

2nd Place: Chloe Brown, Home School 

3rd Place: Taylor Swensen, Bonney Lake High School

Photography Winners

Grades 7 & 8

1st Place: Michael Fulkerson, Other 

2nd Place: Morgan Ackerland, Home School 

3rd Place: Natalynn Kirkendoll-Graham, Key Peninsula Middle School

Grades 9 & 10

1st Place: Sofia Anderson, Steilacoom High School 

2nd Place: Alana Rojas, Steilacoom High School 

3rd Place: Anna Salmon, Steilacoom High School

Grades 11 & 12

1st Place: Jehlil Ruffner, Steilacoom High School 

2nd Place: Jade Edwards, Steilacoom High School 

3rd Place: Elliot Carlsson, Steilacoom High School

Short Story Winners

Grades 7 & 8

1st Place: Audrey Douglass, Other 

2nd Place: Gabriella Vonada, Home School 

3rd Place: Lia Hartley, Ferrucci Junior High School

Grades 9 & 10

1st Place: Rylie Wood, Covenant High School 

2nd Place: Jacob Lawty, Covenant High School 

3rd Place: Nathan Schmidt, Covenant High School

Grades 11 & 12

1st Place: Mary Funches, Covenant High School 

2nd Place: Honor Tamminga, Covenant High School 

3rd Place: Aubren Reis, Covenant High School 

Now in its 25th year, the Teen Writing and Art Contest Our Own Expressions recognizes the artistic and creative voice, vision, and talent of Pierce County teens. 

Every January, Pierce County Library System invites students in grades 7 - 12 to submit poetry, short stories, art, and photography to be reviewed in an anonymous and randomized judging process. Selected winners are then published in a chapbook which is added to the library collection. 

With generous support form the Pierce County Library Foundation, the library awards prizes to the final winners in four categories: 

Visit the contest archives 

to view 25 years of creative teen talent.

Pierce County Library is publishing a Fall Edition of the teen-created zine to be widely distributed at our libraries! 

Learn more about zines here. 

Announcing the Fall Edition of 

The Pocket Art Collective: Teens Make Zines

to be published November 2021.

	Did you know you can receive professional feedback on your writing for free?    Send any kind of writing (research papers, college application essays, scholarship essays, creative writing, short stories) to the Writing Lab and receive professional feedback within 24 hours!
Watch this video to learn more	Check it out today!