Eastchester Middle School eighth grader Defne Akinci won a countywide environmental writing contest for her poem about climate change.

Akinci's poem, "Changes," was one of three middle school submissions selected as winners in the Westchester Writers Express Youth Environmental Creative Writing Contest, according to the Eastchester Union Free School District.

The contest, run by the Hudson Valley Writers Center, challenges young writers to investigate the world around them with a critical eye.

It is open to Westchester County students in grades 6 through 12, with submissions limited to two pages.

Akinci read "Changes" aloud at a reception at the Hudson Valley Writers Center in Sleepy Hollow on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Her friends, family and Eastchester Middle School Principal Madelin LoBue were in the audience.

"It was really exciting," Akinci said, according to the district.

"Sometimes, I'm a little awkward when I'm getting awards, but I wasn't really scared or worried about it. It was really an honor because my friends and family were there in the audience."

The poem explores both the physical and existential effects of climate change.

Akinci said she has worked on many school projects about the environment and that climate change is something she worries about.

She wrote four poems before settling on "Changes" as her submission.

LoBue, who attended the reception to support Akinci, said the school would support future students interested in exploring writing contests and other ways to express themselves outside the district.

She called it "beautiful to see our students implement the skills that our faculty works so hard to teach them" and take those skills into the community.

Eastchester Middle School serves grades 6 through 8 and is one of five schools in the Eastchester Union Free School District.

Beyond writing, Akinci is involved in dance and singing and is a member of the EMS Players Club.

The full text of "Changes" is published on the Hudson Valley Writers Center website.