Poetry Contest

Click here to see the list of winners for the 2026 Poetry Contest.

The contest is open to New Milford residents in the following four categories:

• Youth 8 – 12
• Young Adult 13 – 18
• Adult 19 – 55
• Senior 56 and up

The contest featured a reading of the winning poems on May 23 at the New Milford Public Library and poets received cash prizes, which were funded by the Arts Commission.

Read the guidelines for submitting your poem here.

Deborah Rose worked with the Arts Commission and the New Milford Library in 2023 to revive the contest from years past. “We have had a great reception the last two years, and we look forward to more submissions this year,” Rose said.

For more information, go to the New Milford Now Poetry Contest page.

2026 Winners

Youth: Claire Benson – First, Sullivan Blatti – Second and HM

Young Adult: Riley Tierney – First and NMPL Honors, Annika Lee – Second, Miranda King – HM

Adult: D.A. Schorr – First and HM, Christina Varba – Second, Jessica Ryan – NMPL Honors

Senior: Susie Hackel – First and HM, Mary Vallo – Second, Margaret Fitzgerald – HM, Stephen J. Sterk – HM, Linda Robinson – NMPL Honors

2025 Winners

Youth: Claire Benson – First, Ariella Di Laura -Second. HM – Fulton Cole, Cooper Wollenhaupt
Young Adult: Riley Tierney – First, Sabatino Di Laura. HM – Kyra Chandler, Alyssa Amorando, Riley Tierney
Adult: Melissa Hanrahan – First, Denise Trach – Second. HM – Melissa Hanrahan, Daniel August
Senior: Rocco Russo – First, Second – Rocco Russo. HM – Mary Vallo, Anita Fabian

2024 Winners

Youth: Claire Benson – First, Stella Pozzula – Second.
Young Adult: Andreau Guiseppi – First, Kyra Chandler – Second.
Adult: Melissa Hanrahan – First, Greta Boesel – Second,
Senior: Mary Vallo – First, Second.

2023 Winners

Youth: Lucy Abin – First, Kennerly Doenges – Second
Young Adult: Julianna Fontanilla – First, Kyra Chandler – Second
Adult: Melissa Hanrahan – First, Martha Readyoff – Second
Senior: Mary Vallo – First, Susie Hackel – Second