The Swamp Fox Writing Project at Francis Marion University sponsored its third annual Langston Hughes imitation poetry writing contest in conjunction with its annual African-American Read-In.

The event was held at FMU’s McNair Science Building auditorium on Feb. 6. Students who were winners in the contest were invited to read their poems before accepting their awards.

The contest was divided into three categories: the lower elementary entrants imitated Hughes’ poem “Harlem;” the middle school entrants imitated his poem “Mother to Son;” and the high school entrants used “Theme from English B” as the focus for their imitation. Winners in the first three places from each category were awarded Books-A-Million gift cards.

Those winners and their respective schools are:

High School Contest

First Place: Fantasia Roberts, Marion High School

Second Place: Emily Reaves, Marion High School

Third Place: Annah Cole, Hartsville High School

Honorable Mention: Michael Owens, Marion High School

Middle School Contest

First Place: Ross Welling, Spaulding Elementary

Second Place: Christina Ard, Bennettsville Middle School

Third Place: Ashley Taylor, Palmetto Middle School

Honorable Mention: Tierra Woodberry, Palmetto Middle School; Danielle Spivey, Palmetto Middle School; Nichole Haberkorn, Palmetto Middle School; Curtis Quick, Bennettsville Middle School

Elementary School Contest

First Place: T’ Andre Allen, Brunson-Dargan Elementary

Second Place: DeJuan Singletary, Chavis Elementary

Third Place: Alexis Moses, Brunson-Dargan Elementary

Honorable Mention: Sydney Gaster, Chavis Elementary

#102 / 2-14-05