The English Department congratulates the winners of the 9th Annual Karen McKinnon Poetry Awards! Our deep gratitude to Karen McKinnon for her generous gift which funds this annual award. And many thanks to this year’s faculty judges, Andrew Bourelle, Sarah Hernandez, and Sharon Warner, as well as to our Faculty Contest Coordinator, Diane Thiel.
1st Place:
Kadra Guillermo, “Pinching Wings”
Kadra is a junior studying English and philosophy. She is currently serving as the managing editor for the 2025 edition of Scribendi and has had work published in Conceptions Southwest and The Palouse Review. Since a young age, she has been an avid reader and writer, and she hopes to publish a book one day.
2nd Place:
Michelle Corral, “Madre”
Michelle is a senior at the University of New Mexico, majoring in English studies with a minor linguistics. She is a first-generation college student, who began her academic journey at Bakersfield College where she earned an associate degree in liberal arts and elementary education. She is now graduating with her bachelor’s degree from UNM and plans to pursue a master’s program in the near future.
3rd Place:
Hayley Hunt, “The Words I Swallow for Your Comfort”
Hayley Hunt is an undergraduate student at UNM who is currently working on obtaining her B.A. in English Studies. In her free time, Hayley enjoys writing poetry, songs, and creating art through a multitude of forms.
