Oakland Names 2015 Youth Poet Laureate

A writer, athlete, musician and high school junior at Bentley School is Oakland’s 2015 Youth Poet Laureate, Mayor Libby Schaaf announced Saturday.

Tova Ricardo was one of 53 people to compete for the title, which is open to anyone between the ages of 13 to 18 years old who lives or attends school in Oakland, program officials said. Ricardo received a $5,000 scholarship and she will have the chance to represent Oakland through public engagements, according to program officials.

Ricardo, 16, is also school-body co-treasurer at Bentley School. The Oakland Youth Poet Laureate title is the city’s top literary honor, according to program officials. Oakland’s youth poet laureate program is in its fourth year.

Past winners include Sophie Elkin in 2014, Obasi Davis in 2013 and Stephanie Yun in 2012.

By Bay City News

Photo via Shutterstock