Sandburg Days Poetry Winners

The Knox College Sandburg Days Poetry awarded prizes on Saturday, April 26, as part of the annual Sandburg Days Festival for the Mind. The award ceremony was held at the Carl Sandburg Birthplace State Historic Site, 313 E. Third St, Galesburg.

In Division 1, grades 5-6, Elena Jimenez was selected winner and Cam Schierer was named runner up. In Division 2, for grades 7-8, Alison Buelt was selected winner and Logan Nelson was named runner up. (Photo, right: Steve Holden, Elena Jimenez, Cam Schierer, Alison Buelt, Barbara Tannert-Smith)

Entries were judged by students and faculty in the Knox College English Department. Smith teaches writing and children's literature at Knox.

Three of the four winners read their poems at the Sandburg Birthplace Historic Site. Cash prizes of $50 for first place and $25 for runner-up were presented by Barbara Tannert-Smith, assistant professor of English at Knox College. Each winner and runner-up received a gift basket from the Carl Sandburg State Historic Site, presented by Steven Holden, site supervisor.

The festival and contest honor Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), a Galesburg native famed for his works of poetry and history, as well as his collections and performances of American folk music.