Two Students Honored at 10th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards

Parker is excited to announce that two Parker poets, 8th grade student Daniel Kutcher and junior E Antonow, were recognized for their talents at the 10th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards.

This year’s winners and honorable mentions were selected from 1,063 submissions representing 186 schools across Illinois, the largest submission class since Illinois Humanities revived the program in 2017, continuing a tradition of uplifting youth voices that Brooks began in 1969.

This poetry competition is centered around the belief that “the perspectives of young people are essential to understanding the world around us. Each year, their poetry provides insight into the ideas, experiences, and questions that shape their lives.” Parker’s two poets met that standard with flying colors.

Kutcher won the 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Award for the poem “Bugs in a net,” and Antonow was an honorable mention for the poem “Shark Week.”

Join Parker in congratulating these two on their tremendous accomplishment!