The English Department congratulates the winners of the 7th Annual Karen McKinnon Poetry Awards. We would like to express our deep gratitude to Karen McKinnon for her generous gift which funds this annual award, as well as our gratitude to this year’s faculty judges, Sarah Hernandez, Scarlett Higgins, and Andrew Bourelle, and our faculty Contest Coordinator, Diane Thiel.
1st place prize went to Tessa Keenan for, “Facets.”
Tessa Keenan is a poet from Tasmania, Australia who will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English in Fall 2023.
2nd place went to Phia Smith for, “Tomorrow I will pour you out.”
Phia Smith is a poet from Bend, Oregon. She is studying English and Chemistry at UNM with an expected graduation of Spring 2024.
3rd place went to Elijah Padilla for “another poem about autumn and death.”
Elijah Padilla is a senior at the University of New Mexico studying philosophy and English. In his free time, he makes art and writes both poetry and fiction. He aspires to complete his M.A. in philosophy and to teach in the future.
