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News

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Mountain Gateway Community College students win poetry and visual arts contests; poet earns spot to compete for statewide title

Pictured left to right: Sabrina Burks, Hayli Givens, and Georgia Bickford

Clifton Forge, VA - MGCC has named the winners of its inaugural Virginia Community College System Poetry &
Luminary Arts Competition.

Hayli Givens (middle) was named MGCC's first Poet Laureate, and Sabrina Burks (left) was named MGCC's
first Artist Luminary. Georgia Bickford (right) placed second in the poetry contest at the MGCC level.

Participating students submitted original poetry and visual artworks during February and March
interpreting the theme “I belong.” The program aimed to foster a sense of community and
belonging at MGCC and across the Virginia Community College System. Twenty of the 23
colleges in the VCCS participated in this first year of the Poetry & Arts Competition, which was
supported by the VCCS Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Culture.


These are the results of the college-level inaugural VCCS Poet Laureate and Artist Luminary
competition. The first round of the contest was held at the school level, and each participating
college in the VCCS will name a poet laureate and artist luminary.


Sabrina's artwork will be part of a VCCS-wide tour that will include every community college in
the Commonwealth of Virginia.


A Poetry Reading and Luminary Celebration will be held on April 2 in the MGCC library at 11:30
a.m. and will feature a panel discussion among the poets and artists, poetry readings, and light
refreshments.


College poetry winners from across Virginia, including Hayli, will then participate at a live
performance of their original theme-related poems at the Dickinson Fine and Performing Arts
Center at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville on April 6 for a chance to be
named Poet Laureate of Virginia’s Community Colleges. A panel of distinguished judges will
determine the winner of the competition based on the individual’s original poetry, a private
interview, and the Saturday performance.


Hayli's and Georgia's poetry will be on display in the library, as will Sabrina's artwork, through
April 4.

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This initiative is 100% supported by a federal U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) award made to Dabney S. Lancaster Community College by the pass-through entity, Virginia Community College System. The total program cost for this initiative is $47,000.