Thirteen undergraduates were recognized during this year’s Nikki Giovanni Celebration of Poetry; the event took place virtually on March 23. 

The ten finalists who read their poems were: Daniel Feldman, Statistics; Michelle Emily Garcia, English and Communication; Julie Greenough, Creative Writing; Jonathan Kabongo, Creative Writing; Kate Lacy, Psychology; Julia McConnell, Animal and Poultry Science; Elena Amanda Meccia; Psychology and Spanish; Kathleen Walker, Creative Writing; Cam Wheatley, Creative Writing; and Michelle You, Wildlife Conservation. The three students recognized for Honorable Mention were: Michael Caraballo, History; Isa Diaz, Creative Writing; and Anne Doyle, English. 

Winners of the 2021 Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize were: Walker, who was awarded first prize, $1,100, for her poem, “Stagnant”; Greenough, who received the second-place prize of $500 for “[app-uh-lach-uh]”; and McConnell, the recipient of the third-place prize, $300, for “Night Drive.” 

The prize was renamed in 2020 to honor University Distinguished Professor of English Nikki Giovanni, who established the competition in 2005 and continues to administer it. Department of English faculty members Aileen Murphy and Joe Scallorns serve as co-directors.