In honor of National Poetry Month, CASC sponsored its sixth annual poetry contest and reading on April 19 in the Joe E. White Library on the Poteau campus. Thirty CASC students were recognized for their original poems, which are featured in this year’s anthology entitled “(un)Titled.”
“Sometimes a title can be a bit restricting, and we wanted our students to have the freedom to write about those important issues that are on their hearts and minds. ‘(un)Titled’ seemed like the perfect way to encourage a little freestyling,” said Susan Hill, Fine Arts and Communications instructor.
Guest speaker and final judge for the event was Ron Wallace, an Oklahoma native and adjunct instructor of English at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma. He is the author of ten books of poetry, five of which have been finalists in the Oklahoma Book Awards. Renegade and Other Poems was the 2018 winner of the Oklahoma Book Award. Wallace is a multiple Pushcart Prize nominee and has recently been published in Oklahoma Today, Concho
River Review, San Pedro River Review, Borderlands, and a number of other magazines and journals. He also edited Bull Buffalo and Indian Paintbrush, a collection of Oklahoma Poetry, and completed his first novel, A Secret Lies in New Orleans, which was a finalist in fiction for the 2022 Oklahoma Book Awards.
In addition to sharing about his own writing journey, Wallace worked with the Fine Arts and Communications Division to select the top six poems. Eunice Quiroz won first place with her poem entitled “(un)Canny Windmills.” Second place went to Emily Teague, author of “Love Then and Now,” and third place was claimed by Alexis Nicholson-Brown with her poem “Fighter.” Honorable Mention recognition was given to Tracy Martin, Caleb Berger, and Jessica Ward. All six poets read their original works at the event.
This year’s anthology features a total of forty-four poems written by thirty CASC students, all of which have now earned the title of published poet. Copies are available to the public in the Joe E. White Library on the Poteau.
