The results are in! Leopold’s Ice Cream and Live Oak Public Libraries recently asked students in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties to submit poems on the theme "Imagine Your Story" and the results were amazing. Twelve winners were chosen across four age groups.
Stratton Leopold, of Leopold’s Ice Cream, said of the challenge, “Every year I anxiously await the arrival of the poetry from our local school children. This year they did not disappoint. Their work was very impressive!”
Each of the First Place winners will receive a Leopold's Ice Cream Party for their class. Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention finalists will each receive a special gift certificate for Leopold’s Ice Cream. We thank the dedicated teachers and parents who find time to advocate for this creative writing challenge and the students who put their efforts into the project. The program encourages students to develop writing skills, expand creative thinking skills, and demonstrate the power of the written word.
1st Place: “I Am Clumsy and Funny” by Jamirah Brown, 2nd Grade, Garrison School for the Arts
2nd Place: “The Pasta Chef” by Caroline Black, 2nd Grade, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
3rd Place: “I Am Calm and Happy” by Ariyah Richardson, 2nd Grade, Garrison School for the Arts
1st Place: “Whirlpool of Change” by Abbigail Mercer, 5th Grade, Tybee Island Maritime Academy
2nd Place: “Yellow” by Paloma Carnes, 4th Grade, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
3rd Place: “What If” by Ruby Robinson, 4th Grade, Veritas Academy
Honorable Mention: “Age” by Logan Smith, 5th Grade, Tybee Island Maritime Academy
Honorable Mention: “Where I’m From” by Gavin Reddick, 5th Grade, Garrison School for the Arts
1st Place: “I Stand Among the Fans...” by Hannah Jane Gard, 7th Grade, Godley Station School
2nd Place: “The Luminescence of the Sky’s Crystal Ball” by Moheb Asimi, 8th Grade, Godley Station School
3rd Place: “I Look at the Moon” by Abigail Roberts, 7th Grade, Godley Station School
1st Place: “A Cadence, A Heartbeat, A Lifetime” by Ashley Nicole Steward, 10th Grade, Bradwell Institute
2nd Place: “Dear Death” by Aniyah Jackson, 11th Grade, Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School
3rd Place: “Hashtag with a Trend” by Jakobe LaCount, 12th Grade, Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School
Honorable Mention: “Capsize” by Ebony Hudson, 11th Grade, Woodville Tompkins High School
All winners and finalists will be invited to read their poems at the Savannah City Council Meeting in March. This meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome.
Stratton & Mary Leopold, longtime advocates of literacy and fostering creative energy in our youth, have hosted the annual competition since 2011. The contest has proven to be a huge success with hundreds of entries each year.
Leopold’s Ice Cream was founded in Savannah, Georgia in 1919 by three brothers from Greece. Peter, Basil and George passed their tradition of making super-premium ice cream, one batch at a time, down to Peter’s youngest son, Stratton. Stratton and his wife Mary own and operate Leopold’s today. Their commitment to arts and education in the community is second only to their commitment to creating the highest quality ice cream possible in a fun, family environment.
