Tennessee Youth Poet Laureate

Zoe Ward

Zoe Ward is the 2025-2026 Tennessee Youth Poet Laureate and a National Gold Medalist in Poetry. She is a creative writing and philosophy student at Denison University. Zoe is a graduate of the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, the Adroit Journal Poetry Mentorship, and the Columbia Multi-Genre Creative Writing Workshop. Her work has been recognized by The Atlanta Review, DIALOGIST, Gannon University, and the JFK Foundation, among others.

Publications

Poetry

"Turn 'Round Your Head," "Do You Glow in the Dark?", and "Behind the Bushes at Spring Hill Camp" in Exile Literary Magazine"Jellyfish, Ashore" and "Saline""Offerings on the Intercom"Forthcoming chapbook under the mentorship of Kelly Falzone and Southern Word.Forthcoming youth poet laureate anthology.Forthcoming publication on Urban Word's website.

Nonfiction

"Is Prison Necessary? Imagining Prison Abolition, Harm, and Punishment with Tennessee Youth Poet Laureate Zoe Ward" by Charlotte Murray, Williams University"Martha Park visits journalism and non-fiction classes""Professor Spotlight: Amy Butcher’s creatively written road to Granville""Beck Series season begins with Amy Butcher""Award-Winning Authors Read at Beck Series""Beck Series Brings Influential Poets to Campus""Baker and Grandbois Kick off 2026 Beck Series"Forthcoming essay collection under the mentorship of Amy Butcher.

Events

Upcoming

Reading at Granville Center For the Arts on July 19th (link forthcoming)Workshop at Brentwood Public Library (date forthcoming)Reading at the Nashville Public Library (date forthcoming)Reading and workshops at Thurber House (date forthcoming)

Past

Lead a workshop for young writers at Thurber House on April 14, 2026Performed at and judged the Tennessee Statewide Poetry Slam on Saturday, April 18, 2026Parnassus reading with Nashville Youth Poet Laureate Marcus Robinson on Sunday, April 19, 2026Kenyon Winter Fiction Workshop Virtual Reading on March 24, 2026Granville Center of the Arts Poetry Workshop on Feb. 1, 2026Urban Word Virtual Poetry MarathonBrentwood Public Library ReadingFeatured at Teens Take the FristReading and poetry workshops at Nashville School of the ArtsWorkshop at The Writers' RoomPoetry workshops at Lipscomb Elementary School

Awards

Recipient of The 2025 and 2026 Danner Lee Mahood Prize For Fiction - issued by Denison University2025-2026 Tennessee Youth Poet LaureateRecipient of The 2025 Annie MacNeill Poetry Prize - issued by Denison UniversityThird Place in The Lyric Collegiate Poetry PrizeDan Veach Prize For Younger Poets Honorable Mention - issued by The Atlanta ReviewFirst Place Winner of National Oratory ContestNational Gold Medal in Poetry - issued by Alliance For Young Writers and ArtistsGannon University National High School Poetry Contest Fourth Place