John B. Cade Library at Southern University-Baton Rouge

✨ RECAP: Pinkie Gordon Lane Poetry Contest & Recognition Ceremony ✨

As part of our National Library Week celebration, John B. Cade Library proudly hosted the Pinkie Gordon Lane Poetry Contest & Recognition Ceremony, an evening dedicated to creativity, reflection, and the power of student voices.

This year’s contest welcomed both high school and college student poets, giving participants the opportunity to share original work inspired by the theme, “Raise Your Voice.” Guests enjoyed poetry, fellowship, and a special display of illustrated poems created from the students’ submissions—each one a keepsake of their voice, their story, and their creativity. 💛

We are proud to recognize our 2026 winners:

🏆 College Division
🥇 Jordan M. Horne, Sophomore, Southern University – “Solid Intro”
🥈 Elgrie Hurd, Junior, Southern University – “Destiny”
🥉 Dontrell Martin, Sophomore, Southern University – “Green Eyes”

🏆 High School Division
🥇 Tori Broussard, Senior, Liberty Magnet High School – “Sterile”
🥈 Eduardo Guimaraes, Senior, Liberty Magnet High School – “The Prayer of the Exile”
🥉 Ja’Niya Hilliard, Sophomore, Liberty Magnet High School--"Untitled"

👏 Honorable Mentions
Chloe Roy, Sophomore, Liberty Magnet High School
Zoey Chambers, Sophomore, Liberty Magnet High School
Devon Brooks, Sophomore, Capitol High School

A special thank you to our judges from the Southern University English Department — Dr. Rasheeda Jenkins, Dr. Taylor Scott, and Dr. Sumita Roy — for the care, time, and thoughtful attention they gave to each submission. Selecting winners was no easy task, and we are deeply grateful for their support of student voices.

Thank you to our student poets, families, and supporters for helping us honor the legacy of Pinkie Gordon Lane and for reminding us that poetry is alive, powerful, and necessary.

📚🖋️ At Cade, we believe every voice deserves to be heard.

Happy National Library Week!