Congratulations to Prairie junior Johnnie Each who was selected as the state of Iowa’s 2022 Student Poet Ambassador. Each will be sworn in in the Rotunda of the State Capitol on Friday, April 22 during National Poetry Month

“The Poet Ambassador program recognizes an outstanding, young writer and celebrates poetry and the literary arts in Iowa,” said Jan Warren, Assistant Director for Student Services at the Belin-Blank Center and Coordinator of the Iowa Scholastic Writing Awards. “We are so pleased that Ms. Each will continue in what is now an impressive tradition set by our inaugural Student Poet Ambassador, Shreya Khullar.”

The Ambassador was chosen from a select group of students who participated in either the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards or the Iowa Poetry Association. There were two rounds in the selection process: first, a blind reading and ranking of each student’s poetry, and then a selection committee made up of individuals from the partner organization selected Ms. Each based on her ability to serve in an ambassadorial role.

Each earned multiple gold medals at both the regional and national level in this year’s Scholastic competition for her poetry. She is also the recipient of the Paul Engle Essay Contest, sponsored by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature.