Twenty-two of Virginia’s Community Colleges are hosting poet laureate and visual artist competitions for students this fall. Supported by the VCCS Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Culture, the theme for the competitions is “I Belong.” Winners of the college poetry contests will be considered for honors as the “Poet Laureate for Virginia’s Community Colleges.” The work of visual artists will be highlighted at various VCCS events, including the New Horizons conference in April.
“I am excited because the arts are a magnificent way of communicating with our heads and our hearts,” said Carla Kimbrough, VCCS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, who will work with college coordinators and coordinate the state Poet Laureate competition.
The digital drawing above is entitled “I Belong,” by Colleen Pendry, adjunct art faculty, Education Administrator and Title IX Coordinator at Blue Ridge Community College.
The competitions are open to students who are enrolled at least part-time in adult education, workforce credential, certificate, or degree programs in Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and/or Spring 2024 at a participating Virginia Community College. Dual enrollment or early college students under age 18 must secure parent or guardian permission to participate in the competitions. Participants may enter contests only in the college within their region, even if that extends across state lines, to enable them to accept invitations from the college and its service region.
Students may enter original work for either or both of the competitions at their college and will need to complete an application, which soon will be available online.
Competition coordinators have been identified at all of the participating colleges and in coming weeks, they will use local college communication channels to inform their students about registration and deadlines. (These will vary from college to college.)
Those applying for the college Poet Laureate must submit three original poems, including one tied to the theme, and be prepared to give a live performance of the theme-related poem. Students vying for the Luminary award through the visual arts competitions will submit one original piece. Works accepted for the visual arts competition are limited to drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
“Our online students are part of our college community,” said Holly Whistler, Coordinator of the VCCS Online Virginia Network. “Ensuring we include them in non-traditional learning experiences helps them grow skills they can use when they transfer to a four-year college. These experiences also help them apply content from their online coursework and reinforces their status as active learners.”
Patrick and Henry is among the participating colleges.
“As our college expands the Caring Campus initiative, these programs sponsored by the DEIC Council help us create a sense of belonging for all of our students and provide a wonderful opportunity to highlight the incredible fine arts work occurring at P&HCC,” said Patrick & Henry Community College President Greg Hodges.
The participating colleges are: Blue Ridge, Camp, Central Virginia, Danville, Eastern Shore, Germanna, Laurel Ridge, Mountain Empire, Mountain Gateway, New River, NOVA, Patrick & Henry, Piedmont Virginia, Rappahannock, Reynolds, Southside Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Tidewater, Virginia Highlands, Virginia Peninsula, Virginia Western, and Wytheville.
