GOLDEN, Colorado (Press Release)– San Diego poet Jane Muschenetz, a mother of two and Jewish refugee from Soviet Ukraine, has been awarded first place in the 2025 National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Professional Communications Contest for her poetry collection, Power Point. She received the award on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, during the NFPW Conference here.
Muschenetz, who arrived in San Diego as a child refugee from Soviet Ukraine and later built a career as an MIT-trained business analyst, draws deeply from her personal journey as both a refugee and mother. Her work weaves data, humor, and heart into poetry that resonates across cultures and disciplines. She also won first place in the Single Poem category for her piece You Are 600% Hotter Than The Sun.
“We are delighted to honor Jane’s poetry along with the outstanding work of communications professionals representing the National Federation of Press Women this year,” said Helen S. Plotkin, NFPW Professional Communications Contest Director. “In selecting her work, the judges were especially moved by the accessible and striking use of statistics and imagery in Jane’s poetry and referred to her work as timely, powerful and a joy to read.”
The NFPW Professional Communications Contest is one of the nation’s most respected competitions for communicators, drawing nearly 2,000 entries this year across 54 categories, spanning online and print journalism, poetry, broadcasting, and multimedia storytelling. First-place winners in state contests advanced to the national competition, where Muschenetz’s innovative and personal voice stood out.
Power Point has been praised as both intellectually sharp and emotionally accessible, connecting everyday life with universal themes of justice, survival, and joy.
Here is her winning poem, You Are 600% Hotter Than The Sun.
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Preceding provided by the National Federation of Press Women