St. Mary Middle School's Olivia Gehrig's poem 'Fashion' hits the national stage in St. Louis

ALTON - One of St. Mary’s Middle School’s “best and brightest,” Olivia Gehrig, recently was selected as a winner of the 2016 7GP 7th Grade Poetry Contest in St. Louis.

The competition is nationally based with entries from all over the country, so it is quite a prestigious honor, said her teacher, Nina Phillips.

Phillips, Gehrig’s literature teacher, submitted the poem and it was published in the “Poetry on Our Terms: Winners of the 2016 7GP 7TH Grade Poetry Contest,” foreword by famous U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera.

“Writing comes so easily to Olivia,” her teacher said. “The poem was fabulous. She is extremely bright. This is a very competitive contest. Her poem was so right on and it comes so easily to her. She can write in formal or creative fashion. She definitely has a gift.”

Gehrig was invited to attend the award ceremony held at the History Museum in St. Louis.  She received a copy of the book, an award certificate , and $25 cash.  The book is now also in the library at St. Mary’s Middle School in Alton.

Olivia’s poem “Fashion” was submitted to the annual contest by her literature teacher, Mrs. Phillips. 

Olivia’s poem reads:

Fashion

People dressed in black

Shirts, jeans, and shoes

Do have a knack

For singing the blues.

2 Large, 1 Topping Pizzas: $35.70 + Tax

Shop Local

Roma's Pizza

Get This Deal →

But those covered in yellow

Clothing shining bright,

Are quite mellow

And provide a dim light.

And the politicians,

Their outfits grey,

Do enjoy petitions

That do what they say.

But the point is that the clothes you wear

Usually reflect what your feelings bear.

Olivia Gehrig

More like this:

Illinois EPA honors student winners in annual poster, poetry and prose contest

Apr 18, 2026

Local Students Recognized in Statewide Writing Contest

Apr 20, 2026

Civic Memorial Student Wins Lewis and Clark’s ‘You Have a Voice!’ Speech Contest

Apr 16, 2026

21st Annual Teacher of the Year Awards Winners Announced

May 19, 2026

100 Years Ago: Women's Speech Contest Draws Crowd at Shurtleff College in Alton

Jun 7, 2026