Ahkei Togun, a Tallwood High School senior, won the national Poetry Out Loud title in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, May 4.  He represented Virginia against contestants from all other states in the U.S., making it to the top nine and then winning the championship.

His winning poem was “Bereavement,” by William Lisle Bowles.

Togun was awarded $20,000 for his win.  Tallwood High School will receive $500 for the purchase of new poetry books.

Stay tuned for more stories about Togun’s win at thsgazette.com.