McDermott Library Haiku Contest Winner
In recognition of National Poetry Month in April, the library brought back the ever-popular Haiku Contest this year. Launched in late March, the contest spanned several weeks, ending on April 14th. Students were invited to submit a library-themed haiku (a poem of 3 lines: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables). Contestants were permitted to submit more than one poem as long as the number of submissions was within reason. By the contest’s deadline, the library received a total of 54 submissions by 35 students.
Following the closing of the contest, a committee of three staff members (Lauren Brown, Library Assistant III; Holly Whistler, Instruction Librarian; Matt Makowka, Research Services Librarian) compiled, read, and evaluated the poems. Each member submitted their top five selections, then the committee head, Matt Makowka, looked for any overlap among them. Before too long, the committee selected a winner, Hawwa Shahid, a senior majoring in biology. The committee notified all participants of the winner via email on April 21st.
The winning haiku:
Palace of knowledge
Those who seek are found fulfilled
Enchanted by truthAuthor: Hawwa Shahid, Biology Senior
Committee head, Matt Makowka, would like to thank fellow committee members, Lauren Brown and Holly Whistler, for their help conducting the contest. Lauren and Holly proved invaluable in assisting with promoting the contest, putting the prize together, and judging poems. Barring another pandemic or other global catastrophe, the library plans to hold the competition again next year. May the best poem win!