2026-27
FINALS CEREMONY
Samuel Bak Museum, 2289 S 67th St., Omaha
6 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026
The Youth Poet Laureate competition identifies influential youth poets with a history of artistic success, civic and community engagement, social justice initiatives, and leadership.
YPL is a joint initiative of Urban Word and the Nebraska Writers Collective. This is a national network that begins, for us, at the state level, and produces poets like our 2021 Inaugural Poet, Amanda Gorman. The winner of the Nebraska YPL title will have the opportunity to apply for the regional and national competitions.
Introduction of Finalists
Commentary from Angélica Perez, 2025-26 Creative Mentor Poem by Victoria Bogatz
Crowning the 2026-27 Nebraska YPL
Thank You!
MEET THE 2026 FINALISTS
Alex Hamric (they/them) is a writer, singer, and political activist from Lincoln. As a senior at Lincoln East High School, Alex most often finds themself writing about identity, queerness, political rage, and growing into adulthood. They have been an incredibly active member in the Nebraska poetry space, participating and winning the 2025 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry festival with their team, attending nearly every poetry event possible, and being a featured poet at galas, festivals, and the 2025 Star City Pride Parade. In their free time, Alex is a classic teenager who spends too much time on their phone, hangs out with friends, and advocates for the rights of themself and others. Along with, of course, writing whenever they can.
Katelyn Grace Omer (she/her) is a hopeful romantic, ice cream addict, social butterfly and messy survivor from Omaha. Poetry is not only what she does best but what she loves best. She witnesses a world of hope and loss with rich metaphor, everchanging rhyme and powerful transparency. This Spring, her work will be enhanced in her Iowa Young Writer’s Studio course, celebrated at the UNO Writer’s Workshop, performed at All Writes Reserved poetry slams, and treasured in the hearts of her supportive friends and family. Nothing matches the thrill of a newly finished poem for Katelyn, but these things come close: window seats on airplanes, pretty sunsets, the beginning of show choir season, the end of a long shift, laughter about silly things, and the knowledge that she made someone else’s life a little easier to endure.
Stephany Orellana Gomez is a senior at Benson High School whose poetry explores identity, faith, and the lived experiences of immigrant and refugee families. She has received several poetry awards, including second place in “Living the Dream” and having a piece selected for Opera Omaha’s Poetry & Music Project. Her work has been published in her school’s literary magazine and the All Writes Reserved Anthology. After taking a pause from poetry in 2025 and attending the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute conference in early 2026, she returned to writing with a renewed vision: to be unapologetically herself. Her work has evolved to center social awareness and amplify the voices of bilingual and first-generation communities while telling her own story with honesty and intention. Through poetry, she seeks to create spaces where cultural identity is embraced, protected, and celebrated.
Am’Agyn Spencer (pronounced “Imagine”) is a visionary student, leader, and entrepreneur dedicated to social justice, academic equity, and systemic reform. As the Founder and CEO of Am’Agyn’s Academic Advisement, she provides expert consultancy and holistic mentorship to a diverse range of K-12 students—supporting those who are struggling as well as those achieving at high levels—to ensure they have the foundational tools for success. Her commitment to advocacy is reflected in her roles as a Policy Fellow for the Youth Lobby School and a Human Relations Intern at All of Us Together Co., where she focuses on anti-discrimination strategies and investigating the root causes of systemic inequality. Recognized for her exceptional civic impact, Am’Agyn is a 20 Under 20 Nebraska Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and a recognized honoree of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations.
MajieAhna Winfrey is a senior at Marian High School and dual enrolled at Metro Community College, graduating with an Associate in Paralegal Studies in May 2026. In the fall, she plans to attend either Hampton University or Creighton University to study political science and psychology on the pre-law track. She is co-founder of LIIT Ladies in IT Pathways, mentoring young girls in STEAM, and has raised over $15,000 in grant funding for her organization. MajieAhna is skilled in robotics, coding (JavaScript & C++), and mathematics, and is active in Speech, Debate, Mock Trial, and Model Congress. Her leadership has been recognized with awards including the Ben Nelson Volunteer of the Year Award (2024) and the Urban League Nebraska Youth African American Leadership Award (2023). Known as an innovative and inspiring leader, MajieAhna continues to uplift her community while pursuing excellence in academics and civic engagement.
MEET THE JUDGES
Broc Anderson is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Director of Historic Sites for the Nebraska State Historical Society. His work focuses on the historical and contemporary relationships between the Lakota and surrounding communities in Nebraska. He is also a Humanities Nebraska speaker and published writer on regional history.
Gabriel Jesiolowski is a cross-disciplinary writer and artist. Their practice includes a variety of physical and metaphysical approaches that include writing, painting, and photography, as well as collaborations with plants, land, and interiors. They are the author of As Burning Leaves.
Alice Kang is a Korean-American resident of Nebraska. She is a professor of Political Science and Ethnic Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her books include Bargaining for Women’s Rights: Activism in an Aspiring Muslim Democracy and the award-winning Reimagining the Judiciary: Women’s Representation on High Courts Worldwide .
Lacey Lamar is a New York Times bestselling author from Omaha. She co-wrote You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey with her sister Amber Ruffin, which received the Midland Authors Award and a Goodreads Choice Award. Together, they also co-host The Amber and Lacey, Lacey and Amber Show podcast. Lacey is currently working on her clothing line, art projects, and several new books.
Luis Othoniel Rosa is a writer and scholar from Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He is the author of several novels and poetry collections, including the bilingual Triste la furia / Sadness, the Fury, and his forthcoming novel El gato en el remolino / Animal Spiral . He is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Ethnic Studies at the University of Nebraska and founding editor of El Roommate: Colectivo de Lectores and a founding member of The LOUDREADERS Trade School.
Dr. DerNisha Phillips is an educator and poet who believes language is a bridge between identity and possibility. As the founder of Identity Preparatory Academy, she centers storytelling as both a pedagogical practice and a form of liberation. Her work reflects a deep commitment to creative expression and community-rooted learning.
JUDGES
MEET THE MENTORS
CIVIC MENTOR
Grace Laflen supports Civic Nebraska’s administrative functions, including hiring, payroll, internal calendar management, and organization-wide culture initiatives. Grace is originally from Springfield, Missouri, where they were heavily involved in the local activism community. That early experience in grassroots engagement sparked a lasting commitment to supporting others and creating inclusive, connected communities. At the University of Nebraska, they studied business administration and served as a Student Strengths Coach.
CREATIVE MENTOR
Angélica Perez is an Omaha-based poet, performer, and educator who spends her time alternating between center stage and deep forest. As a Core Teaching Artist for the Nebraska Writers Collective, she serves as a mentor for the next generation of voices, facilitating bilingual workshops throughout the Omaha community and Nebraska state prisons, while also hosting the city’s monthly open mic and slam. Perez is also the Poet-In-Residence for The Naturalist School.
2025-26 NEBRASKA YOUTH POET LAUREATE
Victoria Bogatz is Nebraska’s 5th Youth Poet Laureate. Victoria is a writer, runner, and climate activist based in Bellevue, Nebraska. She currently serves as the Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate and Co-Editor-in-Chief of her school newspaper.
Passionate about sustainability and storytelling, Victoria spends her time leading the Green Initiative, competing in speech and track, and proving that poetry is for everyone. Her first published collection of poetry, This Is Not The End , will be available in the summer of 2026.
THANK YOU
By supporting the Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate program, you make it possible for young writers to develop their craft, lead with their voices, and share their work in community.
