Raleigh, NC – December 6, 2025 – United Arts of Wake County, in partnership with the Raleigh Fine Arts Society and spoken word artist Dasan Ahanu, is excited to announce the finalists for the third annual High School Spoken Word Contest. This competition celebrates the power of poetry and spoken word, inviting high school students from Wake, Orange, and Durham Counties to showcase their creativity and share their unique voices.  

A panel of professional poets have selected 12 finalists. These finalists will be honored at a celebratory reception on January 28, 2026 at 6 PM, hosted at the North Carolina Museum of Art. During the event, the top three winners will be announced and awarded cash prizes: 

• First Place: $1,000 

• Second Place: $500 

• Third Place: $300 

Congratulations to the 2025 Finalists: 

• Abner Sanabria Cruz – Leesville Road High School 

• Alex Cox – Rolesville High School 

• Alex Kaulfuss – Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies 

• Naomi Hammer – Cary Academy 

• Natalie Tarry – Green Hope High School 

• Paola Quinones-Olmeda – Wakefield High School 

• Philip Adefila – Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy 

• Selina Sentosa Harjo – Green Hope High School 

• Shia Raine Edwards – Enloe Magnet High School 

• Sophie Brinton – Enloe Magnet High School 

• Winnie Wheeler – Green Hope High School 

• Zoz Alexander – Enloe High School 

In addition to competing for the top prizes, all finalists will receive a $100 gift card and have their poem performance professionally recorded and shared with the public.  

Please join us as we celebrate the creativity and brilliance of these young artists at the upcoming winners’ reception on January 28, 2026, at the North Carolina Museum of Art. 

About United Arts Wake County: United Arts aims to build a better Wake County through the support of and advocacy for the arts. Through grants, educational programs, and community initiatives, United Arts helps artists, arts organizations, and communities flourish.  

About Raleigh Fine Arts Society The role today of The Raleigh Fine Arts Society (RFAS) remains as it was since its inception: To cultivate, promote and engage in the arts. 

That means identifying, supporting, and recognizing creative people and helping ensure their work is seen, heard, and appreciated. 

For more information about the contest or to support arts programming in schools, visit unitedarts.org or contact Lee Pike at [email protected]. 

###