U.Va. Art Museum Announces Winners of the 21st Annual Writer's Eye Poetry and Prose Competition

February 18, 2008 — The University of Virginia Art Museum is proud to announce the winners of this year's "Writer's Eye" competition (see below for complete list).

Students in grades 3 through 12, University students and adults were invited to submit original prose and poetry compositions inspired by a range of works. This year's featured works included some from the museum's permanent collection galleries and special exhibitions "William Christenberry: Site and Possession" and "The Dresser Trunk Project." Selected works of Asian art on loan from the Sackler Foundation were also included. In the fall of 2007, more than 2,200 students from more than 90 schools participated in docent-led and self-guided tours.

Local writers and teachers serve as judges for grades 3 through 5 and 6 through 8. In the high school and University/adult categories, mystery writer Rita Mae Brown judged prose entries and author Kendra Hamilton judged poetry.

Hamilton is the assistant editor of a national higher education magazine and a poet by vocation. She's been published in "Callaloo," "Southern Review," "Shenandoah," "River Styx" and anthologized in "Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam." Her collection, "The Goddess of Gumbo," was published in 2006 as part of the Word Press series.

Brown is the best-selling author of numerous books, including "Rubyfruit Jungle," "Six of One," "Southern Discomfort," "Sudden Death," "Starting from Scratch: A Different Kind of Writer's Manual," "Venus Envy," "Rita Will: Memoir of Literary Rabble-Rouser" and "Outfoxed." An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and poet, she lives in Virginia.

"The Writer's Eye" entries are judged blind (entries are given numbers and no information regarding the author, school or teacher is available to the judges) and prizes are awarded. In addition, the first-, second- and third-place winners are published in an anthology. Winners receive prizes that include cash awards, museum memberships and gift certificates to area businesses.

This year's annual Writer's Eye Awards Ceremony will be held March 30 at 2 p.m. in the U.Va. Bookstore, in conjunction with The Festival of the Book. A reception will follow in Newcomb Hall. Visitors may park in the Central Grounds Parking Garage on Emmet Street.

The following are this year's winners:

• Elementary – Grades 3-5

POETRY
First place: Vivian Eggleston, Brownsville Elementary School
Second  place: Veronica Lam, Peabody School       
Third place: Emmie Witmer, Virginia L. Murray Elementary School
Honorable mention: Charlie Warrick, Stone-Robinson Elementary School
Honorable mention: Helen Balew, Virginia L. Murray Elementary School
Honorable mention: Glen Walker, Venable Elementary School
Honorable mention: Sara Honosky, Brownsville Elementary School

PROSE
First place: Kayleigh McCoy, Baker-Butler Elementary School
Second place: Mariah Cowan, B.F. Yancey Elementary School
Third place: Trent Hope (home schooled)
Honorable mention: Hannah Jacobs, Brownsville Elementary School
Honorable mention: Alexandra Allen    , Virginia L. Murray Elementary School
Honorable mention: Jake Wilson, Virginia L. Murray Elementary School
Honorable mention: Gabie Lipkowitz, Walker Upper Elementary School

• Middle School – Grades 6-8

POETRY
First place: Abby Egner, Sutherland Middle School
Second place: Talley Diggs, J.T. Henley Middle School
Third place: Leah Ruth, J.T. Henley Middle School
Honorable mention: Margaret Russell, Buford Middle School

PROSE
First place: Jesse Royster, Grymes Memorial School
Second place: Sophie Gibson, St. Anne's-Belfield School
Third place: John Andrew Kean, Grymes Memorial School
Honorable mention: Della Ruza Jareb (home schooled)
Honorable mention: Naomi Wiener, Buford Middle School

• High School – Grades 9-12

POETRY
First place: Hannah Webster, St. Anne's-Belfield School
Second place:    E.S. Bell, Albemarle High School
Third place: Joseph Shea-Hackett, Charlottesville High School
 Honorable mention: Maggie Goodman, Charlottesville High School
 Honorable mention: Erik Fredner, Albemarle High School

PROSE
First place: Hilary Walker, Charlottesville High School
Second place: Jennifer Jones, Albemarle High School
Third place: Ezra Miller, Albemarle High School
Honorable mention: Sam Bailey, Charlottesville High School

• University/Adult

POETRY
First place: Eric Birkholz, adult
Second place:    Susan S. Muse, adult
Third place: Jim Cocola, University of Virginia
Honorable mention: Edward Strickler Jr., adult

PROSE
First place: Charlotte S. Wood, adult
Second place: Betty Joyce Nash, adult
Third place: Jeremy P. Squire    , adult
Honorable mention: Barry Farr, University of Virginia

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