Rappahannock Community College (RCC) is pleased to announce the winners of its inaugural Virginia Community College System Poetry & Visual Arts Competition. Students were encouraged to submit original poetry and visual artworks interpreting the theme “I Belong.” Twenty of the 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) participated in this first year of the competition, which was supported by the VCCS Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Culture, with its aim to foster community and belonging on campuses and in the community.
First place and RCC’s first Poet Laureate is Audrey Horn. Her winning entry is titled, “Odd.” Audrey is pursuing an Associate degree in Arts and Sciences Transfer Degree with aspirations of becoming a Forensic Genetic Genealogist. Second place winner Ariel Burke’s untitled poem reiterated the theme “I belong, you belong, we belong.” Latia Garner-Johnson received third place for her poem “I Belong.”
RCC Poet Laureate Horn also won a spot to compete for statewide honors. The poetry winners from across Virginia’s community colleges participated in a live performance of their original theme-related poems at the Dickinson Fine and Performing Arts Center at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville for a chance to be named “Poet Laureate” of Virginia’s Community Colleges. They also had an interview with a panel of judges. Although Horn was not named Poet Laureate of VCCS she enjoyed the experience and the chance to meet other students.
A Visual Arts competition was held in conjunction with the Poet Laureate contest. Minajhadore Redd placed first for her drawing “Where I Belong,” depicting a self-portrait in black and white looking at her reflection in color. Redd explained that the black and white drawing shows how she feels while the color version represents freedom to be who she wants to be.
Second place was awarded to Anna Snedden for her mixed media on cloth bag that she sewed by hand and machine, and painted. Her inspiration for the theme “I Belong” came from images of all types of children holding hands. Theodore Titsworth earned third place with their black and white pen and ink drawing “Comfort Zone,” contrasting the natural ecosystem with improper animal welfare, such as limited space. The organic lining represents that we are all made of the same properties and thrive only in the right environment.
Judges for the competitions included Virginia Poet Laureates Dr. Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda and Tim Seibles, and Jenny Newhouse. Visual Arts competition judges were local artists Donald R. Johnson, George Jennings, and Nathan Pope.
“I am very pleased that RCC participated in this inaugural competition and am impressed by the poems and artwork submitted by our talented students,” said RCC President Dr. Shannon Kennedy. “Thank you to the faculty and staff who organized the competition, to our esteemed judges, and all those who participated.”
With the support of Virginia’s Humanities, the winners from all 20 participating colleges will have their poetry and visual arts featured in a book to be published this summer. The Virginia Humanities grant also supported professional development for the college poet laureates and top visual artists.
