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The Historic Neighborhood at �þ��� celebrated the power of student voices on Tuesday, April 28, with the announcement of the winners of the 3rd Annual Primavera Poetry Contest. The awards were revealed during a lively public reading held at The Oak House, where finalists shared their work with an enthusiastic audience of peers, faculty, and community members.

The contest and event were carried out by Historic Neighborhood’s Faculty Director, Claudine Moreau. This year’s contest was judged by Asheville poet Ivy Rozen, who has commitment to lifting up emerging writers brought thoughtful attention to each submission. Rozen, who has a new book forthcoming this summer titled, If I Love You, from Seed Bed Press, praised the depth, originality, and emotional resonance of the student work.

Winners

1st Place
Madelyn Fourie — “Bone to Bone”

2nd Place
Georgia Vaughn — “A Note On Dreaming”

3rd place
Addison Hobgood — “Grip”

Honorable Mentions
Lidia Briones — “Our Love, Unending”
Emma Briceno — “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Were Right”
Allena Boddie-Chapman — “The Unlost and Unfound”

Beyond recognizing outstanding poetry, the evening underscored the transformative power of the contest itself. Several of this year’s finalists had never publicly identified as poets before submitting their work, and for some, the April 28 reading marked the first time they had ever shared their writing aloud in front of an audience. Their willingness to step forward and be heard speaks to the welcoming, affirming space the Primavera Poetry Contest continues to create.

Now in its third year, the contest has become a vibrant tradition within the Historic Neighborhood, offering students a meaningful venue to explore creative expression and build community through poetry. With another successful year concluded, organizers look forward to continuing this celebration of student voices in the years ahead.