Aadya Kumar ’30 Wins First Place in National Chemistry Week Illustrated Poem Contest

Kent Place is pleased to congratulate eighth-grader Aadya Kumar on her exciting national honor: First Place in the Grades 6–8 category of the 2025 National Chemistry Week Illustrated Poem Contest. Aadya’s accomplishment is the school’s first-ever national win in this competition.

Every year, our Middle Science teachers invite their students to write a poem and illustrate it for National Chemistry Week, and select the top three in each grade to send to the regional competition. Winners at the regional level then qualify for the national contest, where first- and second-place prizes are awarded in four categories.

Says Aadya, “I was inspired by how chemistry really is the secret ingredient behind every spice. I wanted to showcase a variety of recognizable spices while adding a symbolic magnifying glass to highlight the idea of looking into ‘The Hidden Life of Spices.’ My goal was to keep both the poem and the illustration neat, clean, and purposeful so the theme would stand out right away.”

“Aadya’s poem stood out because it beautifully blended the chemistry of the spices she chose with real-life applications, especially how spices enhance the flavor of our food,” says Wendy Hall, who teaches eighth-grade science. “Her thoughtful writing and beautiful illustration showed strong scientific understanding and creativity.”

Aadya’s poem is now featured on the campaign’s website, which you can view here.

Congratulations, Aadya!