The following students were recognized as the 2019 Steger Poetry Prize winners at the Nikki Giovanni Celebration of Poetry.

Senior creative writing major Emily Webb won first prize, $1,100, for her poem, “Veritas Filia Temporis”; Webb also received “the Steger,” a piece of handcrafted art by local jeweler Faith Capone created for the occasion.

The second-place prize of $500 was presented to Kyle Siecker, a junior creative writing major, for “In winter I dream of things with wings.”

Senior communication studies major Karim Eltawansy was the recipient of the third-place prize, $300, for “Starring as an Arab American Kid.”

Earning honorable mention status were: Samuel James, a senior philosophy and literature and language major; Susan Rodriguez, a senior biology and literature and language major; Julia Simpson, a junior biology and Spanish major; Valerie Tran, a sophomore literature and language, political science, and creative writing major; Cam Wheatley, a senior Creative Writing major; Hannah Wynne, a senior creative writing major; and Avy Zhao, a sophomore literature and language, professional and technical writing, and creative writing major.

University Distinguished Professor of English Nikki Giovanni, for whom the event is named, established the competition; English faculty members Aileen Murphy and Joe Scallorns serve as co-directors.

The event, now in its 14thyear, was held April 9 in the Moss Arts Center; the student finalists read their entries, alternating with poems chosen and read by faculty members in the Department of English as well as invited guests.