From left, Hayli Givens, MGCC’s first Poet Laureate, Sabrina Burks, MGCC's first Artist Luminary, and Georgia Bickford, placed second in the poetry contest at the MGCC level.

MGCC Students Win Poetry, Visual Arts Contests Poet Earns Spot to Compete for Statewide Title   Clifton Forge, VA (March 20, 2024) - MGCC has named the winners of its inaugural Virginia Community College System Poetry & Luminary Arts Competition. Hayli Givens was named MGCC's first Poet Laureate, and Sabrina Burks was named MGCC's first Artist Luminary. Georgia Bickford 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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