Mount Holyoke student wins Glascock competition
By: Marianna Nash
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
At the 86th Annual Kathryn Irene Glascock Intercollegiate Poetry Competition, Mount Holyoke student Emily Yates '11 won first place. Joining her at the competition were student poets from the University of Pittsburgh, American University, Smith College, Yale University and Bennington College. Georgia Pearle, an Ada Comstock scholar at Smith College, placed second.
"Winning the award was an exciting surprise. It was an honor to represent Mount Holyoke, and I feel reassured that poetry is something I want to seriously pursue in the future," said Yates, who is from North Carolina and has recently declared an English major and a religion minor.
This year, judges included poets Rachel Hadas (returning for the third time), Erica Dawson and Baron Wormser. Maryanne Alos, FP '02, senior administrative assistant, worked with the faculty committee for Glascock chaired by Professor Amy E. Martin, which included Professors Eugene Hill and Ronaldo Wilson. Professor Robert Shaw was also involved, though he is on leave this semester. Hannah Duff '10 and Sarah Coates '11, both on the English Student Board, helped plan and organize the event, while KellyAnne McGuire '12 assisted the head of the faculty committee in the final stages.
The Mount Holyoke News asked faculty, students and staff, via email, to share their feelings about the tradition, as well as what they viewed as noteworthy about this year's competition.
Alos, Senior Administrative Assistant: "I think the Glascock Poetry Competition is the highlight of the English Department's annual events. It has such a rich and prestigious history and every year we are given the opportunity to rediscover and celebrate poetry. I always think of Sylvia Plath at this time of year. Perusing her pictures in the Stimson Room and having Emily Yates win, representing Mount Holyoke, and Georgia Pearle, representing Smith, it seems a fitting choice of poets this year."
McGuire: "The contestants' readings were great! I didn't really know what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised. Each contestant had something unique and genuine to bring to the contest, and I know that they all really enjoyed their stay on campus as well. I also really enjoyed hearing the judges read their work, and having the opportunity to listen to them speak about what their poetry means to them."
"Winning the award was an exciting surprise. It was an honor to represent Mount Holyoke, and I feel reassured that poetry is something I want to seriously pursue in the future," said Yates, who is from North Carolina and has recently declared an English major and a religion minor.
This year, judges included poets Rachel Hadas (returning for the third time), Erica Dawson and Baron Wormser. Maryanne Alos, FP '02, senior administrative assistant, worked with the faculty committee for Glascock chaired by Professor Amy E. Martin, which included Professors Eugene Hill and Ronaldo Wilson. Professor Robert Shaw was also involved, though he is on leave this semester. Hannah Duff '10 and Sarah Coates '11, both on the English Student Board, helped plan and organize the event, while KellyAnne McGuire '12 assisted the head of the faculty committee in the final stages.
The Mount Holyoke News asked faculty, students and staff, via email, to share their feelings about the tradition, as well as what they viewed as noteworthy about this year's competition.
Alos, Senior Administrative Assistant: "I think the Glascock Poetry Competition is the highlight of the English Department's annual events. It has such a rich and prestigious history and every year we are given the opportunity to rediscover and celebrate poetry. I always think of Sylvia Plath at this time of year. Perusing her pictures in the Stimson Room and having Emily Yates win, representing Mount Holyoke, and Georgia Pearle, representing Smith, it seems a fitting choice of poets this year."
McGuire: "The contestants' readings were great! I didn't really know what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised. Each contestant had something unique and genuine to bring to the contest, and I know that they all really enjoyed their stay on campus as well. I also really enjoyed hearing the judges read their work, and having the opportunity to listen to them speak about what their poetry means to them."