Taylor A. Lewis, C’2018, has been awarded the 2017 Edith A. Hambie Poetry Prize. Sponsored by the Academy of American Poets and funded by family and friends of Dr. Hambie, the prize was established at Spelman in 2007 to honor Dr. Hambie’s equal love for science and research, and for creativity and the arts.
Lewis, an aspiring writer and educator, is an English major with a focus in writing and a minor in comparative women’s studies. Her award includes a $100 cash prize, one free year of membership to the Academy of American Poets, publication of her winning poem on the AAP website, as well as eligibility for the $1,000 Aliki Perroti and Seth Frank Most Promising Young Poet Award.
This year’s prize judge, Allison Joseph, directs the master of fine arts program in creative writing at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is editor-in-chief and poetry editor of the Crab Orchard Review. Joseph gave a poetry reading at Spelman in March during her residency in the state as the 2017 New Georgia Arts Literary Achievement honoree.