Pamela Michael, Haas and the 2003 River of Words student winners and finalists. - John McShane
Poet Robert Hass, who served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 1995 to 1997, returned to the Library of Congress on April 26 to host a program honoring the student winners of the annual River of Words environmental poetry and art contest.
Eleven winners and finalists from across the United States read their poems or talked about their art work, which was on display in the Library's Mumford Room.
Stanislav Shpanin, age 12, from Baku, Azerbaijan, accepted the International Grand Prize for art. Alicia Hokanson of Seattle, the 2003 River of Words "Teacher of the Year," made brief remarks.
This was the eighth annual awards ceremony sponsored by the Center for the Book, a River of Words project partner. "Several of the center's state affiliates host or strongly support River of Words in their states," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "We hope more state centers will become involved in 2004."
Left, Robert Hass with Amika Rudisell, age 14, who won the Anacostia Watershed Prize for her art work, "Pollution"; center, Stanislav Shpanin, age 12, from Baku, Azerbaijan (above), won the International Grand Prize (Art) last year for "The River is the Basis of Life." Accompanied by his parents, he received his award this year at the 2003 awards program; right, River of Words logo. - John McShane
A program highlight was a preview of a colorful new 77-page publication, "River of Words: Images and Poetry in Praise of Water" (Heydey Books, 2003), that features winning entries from the project's early years. It is edited by book illustrator Thacher Hurd and the two founders of River of Words, Hass and writer Pamela Michael. The book, which is on sale in the Library's Sales Shop, has a strong Library of Congress connection. It is dedicated "In memory of George A. Pughe, Jr., who loved children, believed in the value of education, and devoted his professional life to the people and programs of the Library of Congress, where River of Words was born."
Jane Rogers of San Francisco, Pughe's step-daughter and a member of the River of Words board of directors, presented the book to Cole.
The River of Words annual environmental poetry and art contest is open to young people from ages 5 to 19. The deadline for next year's contest is Feb. 15, 2004. For information, contact River of Words, telephone (510) 548-7636, e-mail: info@riverofwords.org, or visit the Web site at www.riverofwords.org.
