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Library staff hosts annual poetry contest


Roses are Red ...
Summer Hall / Mainstream

In honor of National Poetry Month, the UCC library is hosting an April Poetry Contest.

The focus of the contest is to celebrate poetry by engaging students in a successful and fun element of literature.

The contest will run from April 7 to April 25.

In order to enter the contest, select a “library photo” from the library display or the library blog post announcing the contest, write a poem inspired by one of the photos and submit contact information, the photo choice and the inspired poem to the library staff. Students can turn in their poem at the circulation desk or submit it online.

Only current UCC credit students may enter the contest. Entries must be completed and turned into the library by 5 p.m. April 25. Winners must retrieve their prizes by May 5 — if prizes are not retrieved, new winners will be drawn.

The grand prize poem, to be selected by the library staff, will win a $100 gift card for the UCC Bookstore. Poets will also have the chance to win lunch for two at the River Rush Bistro in a random drawing.

The library staff enjoys having semi-regular contests and thought that a poetry contest would be an exciting way to celebrate National Poetry Month.

According to poets.org, National Poetry Month was initiated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. In response to the successful celebrations of Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March,  the Academy decided to declare National Poetry Month in April.

National Poetry Month was created to introduce more Americans to the pleasures of poetry and to give poetry a higher importance in school curriculum.

 “Poetry is a great literary art form,” Katie Cunnion, Reference Librarian, said. “Poetry is how people express what they observe.”

Poetry is a great way to express oneself because it focuses on imagination, according to Library Director David Hutchison.

“It’s like song lyrics without the music,” Hutchison said.

The library staff members are poetry fans as well. Cunnion loves all poetry, especially haiku. Hutchison is a fan of E. E. Cummings and Richard Brautigan. Library assistant Valerie Milkto enjoys Robert Frost and Auden.

For more information on the contest, contact library staff or visit the UCC library website.