The Shadows-on-the-Teche holds its first annual Juneteenth Student Poetry Contest on Saturday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. in the gardens of the Shadows-on-the-Teche.

Using “I, Too” by poet Langston Hughes as a prompt, Iberia Parish public school students were invited to write poems to commemorate the Juneteenth National Holiday. The theme of the competition was “Freedom and Justice for All.”

Winners of the competition will be announced in two categories: middle school and high school. Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners in each category. Students who placed will have the opportunity to read their poems.

Judges for the competition were Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy, current Poet Laureate of Louisiana, Darrell Bourque, Poet Laureate of Louisiana, 2007-2011, and John Warner Smith, Louisiana Poet Laureate, 2019-2021.

The event is free to the public. Students and teachers at Iberia Parish public schools are especially encouraged to attend, as well as their family and friends.

For additional information, contact Executive Director John Warner Smith at (337)-369-6446.