Fifth graders sweep regional poetry contestBoyce Middle School swept the third-fifth grade category of 2016 National Chemistry Week illustrated poem contest, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society. Fifth grade poets Eva Chrousis and Asha Segall won first and second place, respectively.
The illustrated poem contest was open to students in kindergarten through grade 12 in southwestern Pennsylvania, the northern panhandle of West Virginia and Jefferson County in Ohio. Students competed within four grade level categories: kindergarten – grade 2; grades 3 – 5; grades 6 – 8; and grades 9 – 12.

The four first place winners received $50 and advanced to the ACS National Illustrated Poem Contest. Students who earned second place received $25.
Students were tasked with writing and illustrating a poem using the National Chemistry Week theme, “Solving Mysteries Through Chemistry.” Poems could be no more than 40 words and in one of the following styles: haiku, limerick, ode, ABC poem, free verse, end rhyme or blank verse.
Entries were judged on relevance to and incorporation of the theme, word choice and imagery, colorful artwork, adherence to poem style, originality, creativity and overall presentation.