From Staff Reports

Suffolk News-Herald

 

The Paul D. Camp Community College Literary Club’s sixth annual Literary Festival drew approximately 100 attendees to the Suffolk Hobbs Campus on April 24.

“It was truly a momentous occasion — a festival like never before,” said Literary Club Adviser Ronette Jacobs.

The event featured Virginia’s 2012-14 Poet Laureate, Sofia M. Starnes, as keynote speaker; award-winning poet, recording artist and educator Synnika Lofton as the moderator; and Dr. Harriette Arrington as the dynamic storyteller.

Activities for children included balloon art by Ryan the Balloon Guy, Ryan Lavallee, and face painting.

Another highlight scheduled was original readings by winners of the PDCCC Student Poetry Contest.

The following are the winners of the PDCCC Student Poetry Contest:

4First Place ($25): Tori Gray, of Suffolk, for “A Stormy Mind”

4Second Place ($15): Eryn Owen, of Suffolk, for “Grandma and Granddaddy” and “For Kids”

4Third Place ($10): James McMichael, of Buena Vista, for “She Says it Was Delusional”

“We had a lot of wonderful entries,” said Jacobs. “In addition, the club members did an incredible job of planning around our theme, ‘Promoting Literary across Generations.’ We look forward to next year’s event.”