New River Community College announced the winners of its inaugural Virginia Community College System Poetry & Visual Arts Competition.
Participating students submitted original poetry and visual artworks during February and March interpreting the theme “I belong.” The program aimed to foster a sense of community and belonging at NRCC and across the Virginia Community College System, according to a news release from the college.
Twenty of the 23 colleges in the VCCS participated in this first year of the Poetry & Arts Competition, which was supported by the VCCS Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Culture, according to the release.
Poet laureate winners were: first place; Ruth Johnson with “The Darkness Feels Warm;” second place; Sydney Proctor with ‘Your “World;”’ third place; Jacob Hall with “Through Him I Find Life;” and honorary mention; Cameron Flinchum with “Gaia’s Open Arms.”
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Visual luminary winners: first place; Jordan Perfater with “Nature’s Calling;” second place; Amara Freeman with “A Work in Progress;: third place; Kyle Scarrette with “The Hobbyist-I Belong in the Communities of My Craft;” and honorable mention; Afton Thompson with “Eye of Belonging.”
“NRCC is extremely proud of our poet and artist winners and the creativity they displayed during these competitions,” said school President Pat Huber said.
Winners at NRCC received ribbons, and the art contestants are exhibited in the Fletcher Gallery until the end of the semester.
Johnson also won a spot to complete for statewide honors.
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., according to the release. The Virginia Humanities grant also supported professional development for the college poet laureates and top visual artists.
