Continuing its practice of highlighting excellence, the Board of Education honored Newtown High School junior Ashley Gong at its meeting on Tuesday, October 7.

Ashley was announced as one of this year’s National Student Poetry Ambassadors during a visit to Washington DC, between September 17 to 20, during which First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a reading, which was the first event that all five of the National Student Poetry Ambassadors took part in together.

According to Ashley, being named a National Student Poetry Ambassador requires entering and winning either a national gold or silver medal in poetry from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. From there, a pool of 35 semifinalists are chosen, and a panel of judges then chooses five finalists from that pool of contenders.

The National Student Poets Program, according to its organizers, is the nation’s highest honor for teen poets presenting original work. The five young poets were appointed by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers to showcase the essential role of writing and the arts in academic and personal success, according to the release.

This year’s other National Student Poets are Weston Clark of Indianapolis, Ind.; Julia Falkner of Louisville, Colo.; Madeleine LeCesne of New Orleans, La.; and Cameron Messinides of Greenville, S.C.

As youth ambassadors for poetry and the art of language, the National Student Poets will lead readings and workshops at libraries, museums, and schools throughout the country, as well as participate in prestigious events such as readings at the Library of Congress and the US Department of Education, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival where they will present on a panel for educators, according to the release.

In addition, the National Student Poets will implement community service projects in their respective regions.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, introduced Ashley to the school board at its October 7 meeting.

The superintendent also shared a booklet from Ashley’s visit to the White House with the school board.

“Ashley Gong sits in front of you this evening as one of the five honorees representing this country as a poet scholar,” said Dr Erardi.

The evening after speaking with Ashley for the first time, Dr Erardi said he went home and shared with his wife that “there is equity in how brilliant this young lady is and how humble this young lady is.

“She is an absolute pleasure to get to know,” the superintendent continued, “and she hides her brilliance beautifully.”

Ashley read one of her poems for the school board during the meeting.

“My inspiration for my poetry,” Ashley told the school board, “usually comes from things I pick up in life, whether from school classes, such as math, science, and social studies, to, even just, my imagination or even items on the news.”

Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander said the school board appreciates everything that Newtown students do in general, but that Ashley specifically has “gotten to a level of excellence that we love to see in our school system.”

Mr Alexander congratulated Ashley on her accomplishment before the school board took a break to celebrate with Ashley, her mother, Lin, and little brother Kevin.