Registration for the 2026 Cotter Cup closed March 20th
In 1913, renowned Louisville educator and poet Joseph S. Cotter, Sr. created a storytelling contest for kids at the Western Library that became known as the Cotter Cup. Today, the annual Cotter Cup Storytelling Contest—presented in partnership with the UofL Writing Center—focuses on storytelling through poetry and is open to all Louisville students, grades K-12.
Thank you to everyone that participated in this year’s Cotter Cup Storytelling Contest. We received 97 submissions from talented students, grades K-12, across Jefferson County. The poems were all extremely good and our panel of judges—poets Hannah Drake and Robin G, and UofL English professor Dr. David Anderson—had a difficult time selecting the winners in our three age groups. They said that everyone that participated this year should feel very proud, whether you place or not.
Finally, the Library would like to thank the Library Foundation and Community Foundation of Louisville for their financial support of the contest.
2026 Cotter Cup Winners:
Elementary School
- 3rd Place – Love Garden by Maanvi G.
- Tie for 2nd Place – The Months by Amreen S.
- Tie for 2nd Place – What It Means to Be A Black Girl by Harlem C.
- 1st Place – Through Trees & Skies by Erica S.
Middle School
- 3rd Place – Walking Towards What? by Sylvie D.
- 2nd Place – My Life by Ellie R.
- 1st Place – Statue Garden by Katy A.
High School
- 3rd Place – Womanhood in the Hands of a Man by Teba A.
- 2nd Place – Proudly Somali by Inaas A.
- 1st Place – Stained Glass & Straightened Hair by Bailey R.