Ana Hunter ’23 Chosen as Memphis Youth Poet Laureate

Founded in 2008, the National Youth Poet Laureate Program identifies, celebrates, and honors teen poets who exhibit a commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement, youth leadership, and social justice. Memphis poets were invited to submit a collection of poetry along with a resume detailing their community and civic engagement. Work was judged by a panel of community poets, activists, college professors, and youth advocates. As a finalist, Ana participated in a master workshop that focused on creative writing as activism and performance practicum.

“Not only is Ana’s poetry dynamic and diverse in theme, she was chosen for her community engagement and ambitious plans for her future,” Bria Saulsberry, executive director of HomeGrown Arts, said. “She will undoubtedly represent Memphis and Memphis youth with intentional consideration and deep-rooted pride.” The organization will mentor Ana through her residency.

Ana previously won first place in the Tom Lee Poetry contest and was also awarded a gold key and an honorable mention for her writing portfolio in the Scholastic Writing Awards in the South region. She will be attending the University of Southern California as a McCarthy Honors College resident and a Viterbi Scholar with an intended major in video game design. Read more about Ana here.