AUM High School poetry competition: 5 Montgomery High School students earn top prizes
This Spring, AUM hosted its second annual high school poetry competition, recognizing five talented youth from the River Region for their creative writing and contributions to literature.
The competition, organized by AUM’s Department of English and Philosophy in collaboration with the AUM English Club, celebrates outstanding young writers and young poets in grades 9-12 from the River Region. High school students were invited to participate and submit their original poems as entries, with only one poem per student accepted for consideration. The competition aims to encourage creativity, self-expression, and storytelling, while showcasing the unique voices and talents of young poets and writers. This year, the entries centered around the theme “Connection and Creation in a Digital Age,” aligning with the theme of AUM’s Spring 2025 edition of its student-run literary magazine, “Common Thread.”
“We were looking for submissions that explored the relationship between people and modern technology,” said Professor of English Joyce Kelley, who oversees the contest. “We were especially interested in works that depict the impact of social media and AI on human connection, relationships, and art.” The contest presents a challenge for students to explore the impact of technology on their lives and to use language and words creatively in their poetry.
River Region students recognized for their outstanding work in this year’s competition are:
- First Place (tie): “Digital Daze” by Ifeoluwa Braimoh, a senior at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School, and “Hex Code: #0BDA51 (Malachite)” by Jamesyn Williams, a senior at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School
- Second Place: “The Dance of Emotion and Algorithm” by Keyla Mendez Luna, a senior at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School
- Third Place: “False Truths” by Skylar Jackson, a freshman at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School
- Honorable Mention: “Parrots” by Mikayla Austin, a sophomore at Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (LAMP)
A panel of editors and teachers chose the selected poems, and the winning entries were awarded prizes and publication opportunities.
Both first-place poems received features in the Spring 2025 edition of “Common Thread,” while the other winning poems received recognition in the expanded online edition of the magazine. Additionally, first-place winners are eligible for a $500 scholarship through the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) if they attend AUM and are significant in one of the college’s academic programs. The publication of the winning poems helps students gain recognition and can serve as a stepping stone in their literary education and future in the arts.
Past winners of the competition have gone on to participate in other literature and arts contests, and the competition is held in honor of outstanding achievement in creative writing.
There was no entry fee, and the submission deadline was in early spring.
Photo caption: From left, Jamesyn Williams, Skylar Jackson, Ifeoluwa Braimoh, Mikayla Austin, Keyla Mendez Luna
