This year's National Poster & Poetry Contest theme is One World, Many Cultures, Many Careers.

Click on the winner listed below to read the winning poem. All poems were transposed directly from their original papers with spelling & grammar in tact.

Primary K-2

• 1st Place, One World, Many Cultures, Many Careers Morgan Leigh Cook, AL
• 2nd Place, Astronaut, Amber Taylor,VA
• 3rd Place, Veterinarian, Faith Steward, AL

Intermediate Grades 3-5

• 1st Place, One World Many Cultures Many Careers. Kimya Loder, A
• 2nd Place, Work Together, Mary Meier, VA
• 3rd Place, Choices, Charisse Thompson, VA

Middle Grades 6-8

• 1st Place, One World, Forrest Rossi, SC
• 2nd Place, One World, Many Cultures, Many Careers. Erin McLoney, F
• 3rd Place, Scientist, Ezekiel Ufomadu, AL

Senior Grades 9-12

• 1st Place, Discovery, Mariama Kabia, V
• 2nd Place, Our Stew, Jamie Flythe, N
• 3rd Place, One World Many Cultures Many Careers, Amanda N. Rone, MS

Adult Student

• 1st Place, Hands, Kenneth Freeman, OK
• 2nd Place, One World-Many Cultures-Many Careers, David Templeton, OK
• 3rd Place, Should I?, Lindsey McGrew, TN

Open Adult

• 1st Place, My Journey Around the World: Many Lives, Many Cultures, Many Lessons, Yas Djadali, CA
• 2nd Place, One World,Runas C. Powers, III, AL
• 3rd Place, Children Sing and Old Men Dream, Earl J. Wilcox, SC

---

Primary K-2

1st Place
One World, Many Cultures, Many Careers
by Morgan Leigh Cook, AL

In one world, many cultures, and many careers,
I want to be an artist,
And draw pictures of peace.

I will do my best,
To help war and hatred cease.

2nd Place
Astronaut
by Amber Tayler, VA

When I grow up I want to be,
An astronaut can you see.
Around the world I want to fly.
Collecting comets out of the sky.

3rd Place
Veterinarian
by Faith Steward, AL

When I grow up I am going to be a vetenrian
I will nurse the puppies so they can grow
teach the kittens so they know
brush the bunnys tail so they can fluff
and show other animals lots of stuff.

Back to Top

Intermediate 3-5

1st Place
One world Many Cultures Many Careers
by Kimya Loder, AL

One world unfurled with cultures that are all bright,
Hispanic, Chinese, African American, and White.
With these different cultures come different jobs,
like farmers in the country farming corn on the Cob.
There are miners in Africa mining diamonds galore,
There are doctors, teachers, and many More.
Kings and Queens from England to France,
ruling and making laws for their lands.
There are inventors in China using nuts, bolts, and gears,
we are one world many cultures and many careers.

2nd Place
Work Together
by Mary Meier, VA

We all live in different places
But inside we're all the same.
We're a world of many races
Yet we play our own game
Creating dreams with little gears
of all the many different careers.
So in this one world,
of many jobs, many races
Let's all work together for better years!

3rd Place
Choices
by Charisse Thompson, VA

Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Astronauts, Judges, Engineers.
There are plenty of choices to make when choosign a great career.
Whether you're in North America, South America, China or Japan.
Australia, Europe, Africa, Ireland or Iran.
You have the choice for you're future whether there or here.
In this world are many cultures and careers.
No matter who you are or where you're from, there's one thing I know to be true.
As kids growing up in this world there's no limit to what we can do.

Back to Top

Middle 6-8

1st Place
One World
by Forrest Rossi, SC

One World

Our Inspiration
Our Provider

For the potato farmer in Idaho
For the logger in Canada

For the pipeline worker in Alaska
For the silkworm grower in China

For the Archeologist in Egypt
For the fisherman in Iceland

For the artist in Paris
For the watchmaker in Switzerland

For the basket weaver in Mexico
For the coffee bean grower in Latin America

For the many careers spanning many cultures
For working people everywhere

Our Provider
Our Inspiration

Our World

2nd Place
One World, Many Cultures, Many Careers.
by Erin McLoney, FL

I live in One World,
I see Many Cultures,
I see people & their Many Careers
They all are so different
but yet the same
We all have traditions
Like Christmas and New Years
We all have careers
Like Artist, Doctor and Zoo Keeper
We're all different...yet so the same
But, we all are in this,
ONE WORLD
Together Everyday.

3rd Place
Scientist
by Ezekiel Ufomadu, AL

I'm talking scientist!
I'm talking helping the world.
I'm talking making medicines and finding cures.
I'm talking helping Blacks, Indians, and Egyptians.
I'm talking making a difference in the world.
I'm talking helping children and adults all around the world.
I'm talking entomologist, neurologist, astronaut, and biomedical engineer.
I'm talking a way to make the blind see.
I'm talking a way to make the deaf hear.
I'm talking helping cultures.
I'm talking helping the world.
I'm talking scientist.

Back to Top

Senior 9-12

1st Place
Discovery
by Mariama Kabia, VA

One World
of limitless possibilities,
Beyond every horizon,
Past skies of boundless dreams.
Hidden,
at times,
through clouds of doubt.

To the rice fields of Asia,
To the towers of London,
Behind skyscrapers of New York,
Through the jungles of the Amazon.
Along the coasts of West Africa,
Across the plains of Australia,
Many cultures
Many careers
One world.

Just waiting to be discovered.

2nd Place
Our Stew
by Jamie Flythe, NC

The world is like a pot of stew.
Careers, like ingrediants, added by you

With endless cultures, like different flavors,
Tons of jobs acting as different layers,

With different languages, foods, and religions,
The stew simmers throughout the regions.

We all have different educations,
Forming one diverse union of nations.

And like the stew the flavor changes,
As does our world throughout the ages.

3rd Place
One World Many Cultures Many Careers
by Amanda N. Rone, MS

Our world that we call home
is a fortress that we have built.
We as the constructors assort the stones
skilled to ensure it does not crumble nor tilt.

From the vastness of the horizon
to the radiant setting sun,
our development for our target structure
has only just begun.

Each pillar stands as an individual
that is a necessity to assemble each wall.
The lacking of any steadfast addition
would without a doubt cause a definite fall.

Our beliefs and our influences
are the keys to strength and unity.
Together we stand as a mighty whole
as a workforce, a tribe, a community!

Back to Top

Adult Student

1st Place
Hands
by Kenneth Freeman, OK

Hands at work in all colors
Hands at work in all trades
Hands at work for tomorrow
Mankind's hope in array

Hands stretched forth for the glory
Hands stretched forth for the flame
Hands stretched forth in the story
The torch of Mankind's acclaim

Hands at rest in the future
Hands at rest in world peace
Hands at rest in achievement
The wonder of man is increase

2nd Place
One World-Many Cultures-Many Careers
by David Templeton, OK

As we travel on this journey
'Cross the seas and the lands
We see the whole planet
Working with their hands.

Some people hold tools
While others, they have none
Yet they all accomplish
Their work beneath the sun.

Some do manual labor
And some will use their mind
But they all have their goals
And reach them all in kind.

No matter where we travel
As long as we're on Earth
We all have the drive
For all time after Birth

The one thing we've in common
No matter where you are
Is wanting to be better
And wanting to go far.

3rd Place
Should I?
by Lindsey McGrew, TN (Double Winner! Open Adult - Poster C2)

Should I go to school and be a teacher?
Should I read the Bible and become a preacher?

Should I dance on a stage, witha costume on my back?
Should I lace up my shoes and run on the track?

Should I stay in the kitchen and bake a cake?
Should I grab a pole and fish in the lake?

Should I work in a lab, with test tubes in hand?
Should I walk outside and survey the land?

Should I sing an aria, possibly an Italian tune?
Should I wear a white suit and go to the moon?

Should I stand in a court room and plead my case?
Should I become a detective and look for every trace?

Should I paint with a brush on a canvas of white?
Should I become an electrician and bring people light?

The choices are endless and the decision is mine;
Whatever career I choose, will be just fine.

It doesn't matter what color my skin might be,
the religion I am or the air that I breathe.

It doesn't matter if I'm from Mississippi or Timbuktu,
As long as I can make a difference in this world, I'll never be blue.

I am free to decide which career path to take,
The journey might be long, but it's one I am willing to make.

Back to Top

Open Adult

1st Place
My Journey Around the World: Many Lives, Many Cultures, Many Lessons
by Yas Djadali, CA

I traveled the world: around I went,
Within each country was time short spent.

But long enough for me to see,
The people, the cultures, all versions of me.

So may places, each with a story,
Of war and peace, obstruction and glory.

And although there are collections of race,
The world is really only one place.

So what is to learn through this juxtaposition,
Of rich and poor; united, division?

I know we can't fully learn from afar,
Or understand a culture from where we are.

So I opened the door, and in I went,
Not knowing what exactly I meant.

But believing that I too could connect,
That while I learn I can also affect.

I want to be a part of their life,
Of daily living, comfort and strife.

I wanted to know their everyday life,
Not as a tourist or an American wife.

And when I truly opened my heart,
Absolving the boundaries that keep us apart,

I experienced so much more than just places,
Of sites to see, of foreign faces.

I saw the soul behind each face,
Their history, their family, the heart of their race.

And upon all of these very reflections,
Arose the start to so many questions.

How could it be a smile on their face,
While tilling the land with such subtle grace?

And how could it be a frown on our face,
While riding our limos, clutching a case?

It touched me to see the depth and connection,
Within societies of bonds and affection.

And instantly I felt a sense of shame,
For running the rat race and playing the game.

Could it be that once we start to get rich,
It's hard to stop the insatiable itch?

What is the secret these cultures hold?
Their careers are certainly not bringing in gold.

Yet happiness gleans from each single pore,
Content in the present; not wanting much more.

No chasing in vain of what isn't real,
Or distracting themselves from how they feel.

And suddenly I found my lessons to learn,
It's not about money or how much I earn.

Pleasures are nice and can bring satisfaction,
But I cannot rely on material distraction.

I admire the cultures that already know,
And laugh at the lengths at which I had to go,

To realize just what this life is for,
And that simple does not have to mean poor.

2nd Place
One World
by Runas C. Powers, III, AL

It is all
A small
But one world
With many pearls
Many careers
In the open in clear
Who knows what I will be
Tomorrow I may never see
But I have opportunities
Of many different varieties
But if I am not ready
And not steady
Then so much for the chance
But my culture must advance
Through life's enduring dance
I look at my circumstances
I know Black While Yellow or Red
Is nothing but love that can be spread
Yes a difference of color
When we look at each other
But we realize we are stilll sisters and brothers
One World

3rd Place
Children Sing and Old Men Dream
by Earl J. Wilcox, SC

In Mexico, my home, I had no work ten years ago and my Son
brought me to South Carolina. He bought me a lawn mower,

a rake, and a big bag to haul cut grass to the road. In summer
time, I cut three or four lawns ever day. I like hot Carolina

weather, as it reminds me of the heat in Mexico. I don't have
any other skills to do anything but cut grass or rake leaves

in the fall. Oleta, my granddaughter, is an American citizen
because she was born here. She says "Papa, I want to learn

to mow grass and get a job like you." She is a smart girl, and
I help her learn to spell. She helps me learn English. I tell her

she must go to college to study and learn to be free, to choose
whatever she wants. "Even a lawyer?" she says. I ask her all

the time what she wants to be when she grows up. She repeats:
"I want to mow grass." I said one day: "I'll teach you to cut grass

and you will see how hard it is and not want to do it all your life."
She's a fast learner. On a Saturday morning, when school as out,

we went to mow grass. My old push mower, the one my son bought
me, finally quit and was put out to pasture (my son said). So I

used his Toro, which has power like a Mexican bull. It needed
priming, but finally chugged itself into starting by singing a

happy song that sounded partly like my Mexican hometown song
and "O Say Can You See." I rowed back and forth a couple

of times to show my granddaughter how to overlap and be sure
she was doing a bueno job for the family paying us to work. We

joked about toads and snakes getting cut by mowers. She said,
"yuck" but kept on mowing. After a couple of rounds, she had

the knack of it. I stood nearby a few minutes more, then lay
down under a big elm tree in the shade. During my short siesta,

I dreamed Oleta was a famous lawyer mowing down the other
lawyers, as she sang a song called, "O What a Beautiful Morning."

I will never be a lawyer, but my granddaughter will one day stand
on her own: a beautiful lady who can do more than mow grass.

Back to Top

This year's National Poster & Poetry Contest theme is One World, Many Cultures, Many Careers.

**Due to technical circumstances, this year's outstanding National Poster Winning entries will be available for viewing shortly after April 14th. Please check back again soon. Thank you for your understanding.**