Ryerss Musuem and Library held their first Youth Poetry Reading to celebrate National Poetry Month this afternoon. The students reading were winners of the first Annual Youth Poetry Contest facilitated by Poet in Residence, Diane Sahms-Guarnieri. 12 area high schools were invited to participate. The reading was held in a packed 2nd floor gallery of the museum and library. The students read their poems to an appreciative audience and received awards, certificates and shirts from Ryerss Museum and Library and The Friends of Ryerss. Some photographs appear below. Certificates and Ryerss Museum and Library shirts were provided by Manager Martha Moffat. $50.00 gift cards were presented to first prize winners by The Friends of Ryerss.

Sarah Smolnicki receives her gift card, certificate and a Ryerss shirt from Diane Sahms-Guarnieri and Gary Martinez of The Friends of Ryerss

Melissa Phung receives her award, certificate and Ryerss shirt from Diane Sahms-Guarnieri and Gary Martinez

11th Grade First Prize wiinerr Drew Schmidt of Abington Sr. High School reads his poem Drifting Through Frozen Memories

Drew Schmidt receives his award, certificate and Ryerss shirt from Diane Sahms-Guarnieri and Gary Martinez
Jessica Bachman receives her certificate and Ryerss shirt from Diane Sahms-Guarnieri and Gary Martinez

10th Grade Honorable Mention winner Maeve Thomas of Abington Sr. High School reads her poem Friend Cemetery

Maeve Thomas receives her certificate and Ryerss shirt from Diane Sahms- Guarnieri and Gary Martinez

11th Grade Honorable Mention winner Dominick Palma of Central High School reads his poem Lessons of Central High School reads his poem Lessons of a Baseball

Dominick Palma receives his certificate and Ryerss Shirt from Diane Sahms-Guarnieri and Gary Martinez
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Poet in Residence Diane Sahms-Guarnieri announced the Second Annual Youth Poetry Contest will commence in January 2015.