2022 Winners - Humanities Agora
High School
Poetry
First Place:“Martyr
of Linen” by Jacob Lawless, Mercer Christian Academy;
Second Place: “Hyacinthus” by Brienna
Skeens, Montcalm High School
High School Short Story: First Place:
“In Light of a Storm” by Jacob Lawless, Mercer Christian Academy
HS Personal Essays and vignettes: First Place:
“A Dark Walk” submitted by Montcalm High School Teacher Stacy Canterbury for student who requested
anonymity;
HS Personal Essays and vignettes: Second Place:
“Where do you want to go?” by Jasmin Mullins, Richlands High School
College Poetry: First Place:
Collection of Poetry, Bobby Lawrence, BSU;
College Poetry: Second Place:
“Rest in Peace Humanity” and “Meaning of
Life” by Maitreyi Salvi, R. A. Podar College of Commerce (prospective international partner)
College Short Story: First Place:
“Just a Regular Guy” BSU Fulbright Portuguese Teacher from Brazil;
College Short Story: Second Place:
“The Photo Album” by
Aaron Turner, BSU
College Personal Essays and vignettes: First Place:
“The Accident” by Aaron Turner, BSU;
College Personal Essays and vignettes: Second Place:
“I am Black and My Life Matters” by Jade Goodloe,
BSU
College Art: First Place:
Krishna playing the flute by Shivam Sonawane, R. A. Podar College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai,
India (prospective institutional partner)
College Art: Second Place:
Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore by Mangesh
Sawant, R. A. Podar College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, India (prospective institutional partner)
College Photography: First Place:
“The Gods have Deserted Us” by Meenakshi Chandrabose, R. A. Podar College of Commerce and Economics,
Mumbai, India (prospective institutional partner);
College Photography: Second Place:
“It’s Mine, says Fido” by William
Mills, BSU
College Music: First Place:
“For you” by Shanti Sanyasi, BSU
College Music: Second Place:
“Rock Solo” by Mayan, Katria, R. A. Podar College of
Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, India
Writing Winners
High School Personal Essay Winners
High School Poetry Winners
College Personal Essays Winners
College Poetry Winners
Photography Submissions
View Submissions
Art Submissions
View Submissions
Agora First Place winners receive tuition waivers of $500 and Second Place winners receive tuition waivers of
$250 that are redeemable when enrolled at Bluefield State College.
Agora judges, to whom are owed thanks, included Scott Pitt, Sheilah Sites, Carolyn Kirby, Carolyn Jamkhandi,
Dr. MIchael Smith, Kurt Landefeld, Mark Botts, and Linda Hoagland.
The Virtual 2022 Agora featuring poetry readings, music performances, winning submissions and honorable
mentions for poetry, short stories, personal essays, art, and photography will be available for viewing in
June 2022 at https://bluefieldstate.edu/agora.
The 2022 virtual Agora is dedicated to the people of Ukraine and will feature music by two Ukrainian
musicians, Vera Lytovchenko, a member of Kharkiv’s orchestra, and movie score composer Kostya Leontovich.
Submissions were invited from are high school students and students from Bluefield State and its
international partner institutions as well as from prospective international partner institutions.
Agora, A Celebration of Creative Expression is coordinated by Dr. Sudhakar R. Jamkhandi for BSU’s Humanities
Department. For inquiries about Agora, please email agora@bluefieldstate.edu.