06 May 2018 Poetry contest winners named

Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas (PRA) recently announced the winners of its 2018 statewide Jeannie Dolan Carter Memorial Collegiate Poetry Contest at its annual Dr. Lily Peter Spring Celebration in Little Rock.

Collegiate winners read their poems at the event and received a prize check from the contest sponsor, Roger Carter.

Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas (PRA) recently announced the winners of its 2018 statewide Jeannie Dolan Carter Memorial Collegiate Poetry Contest (JDC). On hand for the announcement were PRA President Dennis Patton (from left), Arkansas Poet Laureate Jo McDougall, third place winner Alexandra Borchardt from Arkansas State University, first place winner Jake Sawyer from University of the Ozarks, JDC Sponsor Roger Carter and JDC Contest Chair Donna Smith. PRA also congratulated three honorable mentions: 1HM – Lindsey Walker from the University of Central Arkansas, 2HM – Rebecca Albert from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and 3HM – Samuel Cross-Meredith from John Brown University in Siloam Springs.

Jake Sawyer of Mena won the first prize of $500 for his poem, “In the Margins.” Jake is a sophomore at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, where he is majoring in English and Environmental Studies and minoring in Film Studies.

Meleah Perez of Green Forest won the second prize of $300 for her poem, “What I Mean When I Say My Family Is Close.” Meleah is a senior at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a double major in Creative Writing and Journalism. She will graduate in May as the first in her family to do so.

Alexandra Borchardt of Monticello won the third prize of $200 for her poem “Melancholia.” Alexandra is a junior at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro where she is majoring in English with a Writing concentration and minoring in Psychology.

PRA also congratulates the following Honorable Mentions:

• 1st HM – Lindsey Walker of Conway from the University of Central Arkansas for her poem “Hand-Me-Downs.”
• 2nd HM – Rebecca Albert of Little Rock from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville for her poem “Grief.”
• 3rd HM – Samuel Cross-Meredith of Siloam Springs from John Brown University in Siloam Springs for his poem “Blood Hydraulics.”

Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas is the oldest, non-profit poetry organization in the state, established in 1931 to encourage the art of poetry. Members are from all around the state, including past and present Arkansas Poet Laureates. Poets are encouraged to contact any PRA Branch President and visit a meeting.

PRA is affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). For more information, visit poetsroundtableofarkansas.org.