Brinkley Howard of Collinsville won the first place prize for the 2014 Oklahoma Lore Youth Poetry contest. The annual contest is sponsored by the Poetry Society of Oklahoma and is open for Oklahoma students in public, private or who are homeschooled and in grades 1-12. The theme this year was "Oklahoma Lore". Each grade had to write a poem about a designated Oklahoma emblem, symbol or tradition. The 7th grade category that Brinkley was assigned was the Oklahoma State Plant, the Mistletoe.

Brinkley was awarded first place at an awards ceremony on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Patience S. Latting Northwest Library in Oklahoma City. For her first place win, Brinkley received a cash prize, a certificate, her poem was published in the 2014 Oklahoma Lore Youth Poetry Anthology and a stuffed animal. Brinkley is the daughter of Chuck and Rusti Howard, the sister to Tyler and Brittany Howard and the granddaughter of Don and Carolyn Brinkey and Virgil and Barbara Howard.

Brinkley's poem is listed below.

The Mistletoe

I grow in the beautiful Oklahoma woods

If you aren't aware of me, then you should

I am one of Oklahoma's oldest symbols

I represent you, I am tough and nimble

I am just like Oklahoma and its people

Land of the red folk, we are all created equal

When the tornadoes hit our beloved state,

I stood up strong and waited for fate

With each tragedy we have encountered we are just alike

We have stood strong, brave and united for the fight

I hope my vines of glory wrap around you and grow

I am proud to be your Oklahoma State Plant, The Mistletoe

Attached, please find a press-release notification regarding the 2013-2014 OSSAA instrumental music successes of the Collinsville Band program.

Please pass on your congratulations to all the respective band students (high school band, 8th grade band, 7th grade band, and 6th grade band) who achieved the highest success possible in the State earning OSSAA Sweepstakes Award (Ratings of Superior at all contests). While it is rare for one band within a school to obtain this level of excellence, all Collinsville Bands have achieved the coveted "Sweepstakes Award" of Excellence at each grade level for 2013-2014.

Again, congratulations to all the instrumental music students for their hard work and dedication.

Instrumental Music Staff - Newhart, Still, Roberts

-- Coach Toni Slagle (4/30/2014)