WordPlay Cincy Announces Mia Watka as 2025–2026 Cincinnati Youth Poet Laureate

WordPlay Cincy is delighted to announce Emilia (Mia) Watka as the 2025–2026 Youth Poet Laureate of Cincinnati. A rising junior at The School for Creative and Performing Arts, Ms. Watka becomes the third young poet to hold this esteemed title, following the inspiring tenure of Gabriel Walker from The Seven Hills School.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of talented young writers, Ms. Watka’s submission was chosen for its clarity, vulnerability, and unwavering dedication to the art of poetry. Her selection was made by a panel of experts in creative youth development, literary arts, education, and community engagement.

Ms. Watka’s accomplishments are impressive. She has received honors from the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and the Books by the Banks Writing Competition. Her work has been featured in 1310 Literary Magazine, where she consistently contributed from Winter 2022 to Winter 2024.

Reflecting on the honor, Ms. Watka expressed her excitement, stating, “I am thrilled to be the Youth Poet Laureate for many reasons, but particularly for the opportunities it presents. I am honored to share my own work and to hear the work of others—to be a mentor and to receive mentorship in return. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and the responsibilities that come with it.”

The 2025 runner-up is Zola Lyons, also a rising junior at The School for Creative and Performing Arts. Katerina Kranias, a rising junior at Cincinnati Country Day School, was named third place.