Winners Announced in the 2026 Mattie Stepanek Poetry Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2026

The winners of the 2026 Mattie Stepanek Poetry Contest have been announced — and once again, young writers from around the world have shared powerful, creative, and deeply moving work. Entries were judged by Dr. Jeni Stepanek, peace advocate and mother of the late poet and peacemaker Mattie J.T. Stepanek.

This year, students were invited to write a poem, create a film, a piece of art, or audio that explores their thoughts and feelings about courage and how courage can be a tool for peace. 

Said Jeni, "This year’s entries from the students were excellent but, like last year, filled with 'heavy' content. My heart goes out to all these young people. The Crooked Umbrella by Zhiheng Xie was very special to me."

See all the winners and finalists here: myhero.com/mattie-stepanek-arts-and-poetry-contest-2026

OVERALL WINNERS: 

Courage is a Crooked Umbrella by Zhiheng Xie

The Blueprint of Peace by Sarah Ying Pan

HIGH SCHOOL ART WINNERS

1st Place: The Blueprint of Peace by Sarah Ying Pan

2nd Place: The Lasting Legacy by Nikita Neogy 

AUDIO

HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS

1st Place: - Courage is a Crooked Umbrella by Zhiheng Xie

Joint 2nd Place: The Key to Courage by Aaron Chen  and Gold Drenched and Singing by Jasmine Zheng

Third Place: The Pringles by Alexander Lyon

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS

1st Place: Love in the Absence by Emilee Sung

2nd Place: When Something Living Leaves by Ethan Wei

3rd Place: The Prufrock Equation by Ivan Zhang

ELEMENTARY AUDIO WINNER

1st Place: Unspecified Earth Problems by Jordan Sung

POETRY

HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS

1st Place:  To Be a Dragon by Jubilee Sung 

2nd Place: Courage is a Crooked Umbrella and The Blueprint of Peace (see both above)

3rd Place: The Cry of Courage by Tessa Francis 

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS

Joint 1st:

The Right Time (to give up a friend) by Victoria Hsu

1st Place: Unspecified Earth Problems by Jordan Sung

FILM 

HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS

1st Place: She Walks in Beauty by Janaya Beaujuin 

2nd Place: Narada Giffin-Bey Cine Poem by Narada Griffin-Bey 

3rd Place: The Little Prince by Jimena Jimenez 

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNER

First Place: When Something Living Leaves by Ethan Wei

This contest continues the legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek, whose own poetry and advocacy for peace inspired people of all ages around the world. Through their writing, these young authors are exploring identity, empathy, justice, science, and hope — and, as Jeni Stepanek says, “sharing their hearts with the world.”

For more on MY HERO’s Mattie Stepanek Poetry Contest 2026 Winners, visit: myhero.com/mattie-stepanek-arts-and-poetry-contest-2026

The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Contest seeks heartsongs (poems) about heroes working for peace, human rights and the environment. The contest is unique in that it is open to poets, artists, filmmakers, and spoken word artists of all ages. “A heartsong,” Mattie explained, “doesn’t have to be a song. It can be your message, your feeling - some people might even call it a conscience. Even though that’s not really what it is. It’s what you feel you need to do.”

Read more about the Mattie Stepanek Poetry Contest: myhero.com/poetry-contest