This special issue of Bridge Ink features the winners of PWN Teen’s 2026 Voice & Verse writing contest. We received over 100 submissions to this contest and we are so proud to present this year’s winners. Follow us @pwnteen to find out more information about next year’s Voice & Verse writing contest!
POETRY AGES 12-14
1st place: EMMA CHIPPENDALE, 14 || holding on
2nd place: GENEVIEVE FRANDER, 14 || expectations
3rd place: ABUNDANCE OKENWA, 14 || never have I ever
honorable mention: ANDREA MENJIVAR-NAVARRETE, 13 || drea’s deliciousness
POETRY AGES 15-18
1st place: JERELYN IXCACO BATRES, 16 || the sadist’s oven is my own
2nd place: AMELIA SCAGGS, 16 || whalewatch
3rd place: AVA SANTOS, 16 || one day i am gonna grow wings
honorable mention: LAYLA SIMONE VADHAN, 16 || put yourself in someone else’s boots
PROSE AGES 12-14
1st place: HAILEY ZMUNDA, 13 || forgotten life
2nd place: VRISAN SHAH, 13 || the prisoner
3rd place: ALIZON LOZADA, 13 || otters
honorable mention: DYLAN MONGE HERNANDEZ, 13 || what is black?
PROSE AGES 15-18
1st place: CHARLOTTE MEADOWS, 15 || the love eclipse
2nd place: JANIN SZALKOWSKI, 16 || how to detonate a bomb by finding your perfect match: for dummies
3rd place: AVERY PUGNETTI, 16 || sandbound
honorable mention: GEMMA COHEN, 16 || my dad’s mov(i)e
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