The English Department congratulates the winners of the 8th 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, Carmen Nocentelli and Stephen Benz, and to our faculty Contest Coordinator, Diane Thiel.
1st place went to Isabella Clarke for “the hotel”
Isabella Clarke is a poet from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is currently studying English and Communications at the University of New Mexico. In her free time, Isabella enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and collecting vintage items.
2nd place went to Tanya Tyler for “To My Yáázh”
Tanya Tyler is a member of the Navajo Nation from Tséʼałnáoztʼiʼí, New Mexico. She is an undergraduate student double majoring in English and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She was recently accepted to the MFA program in Creative Nonfiction at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.
3rd place went to Kadra Guillermo for “Lonely the Jackrabbit”
Kadra Guillermo is a sophomore at the University of New Mexico, studying English and Philosophy. She has been an avid poetry reader and writer most of her life and would someday like to work in academia or publishing to promote the writing of others.