New poets at Central High School win accolades

Central High School students, at left, Samiris Feliz, the third honorable mention winner, and second place winner Jalani Johnson, at right, were congratulated by Central’s English chairperson, Lauren Cote.

Courtesy VSCHSD

Central High School students Samiris Feliz and Jalani Johnson earned distinctions in the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport’s first Poetry Writing Contest, which celebrated April as National Poetry Month. Their winning entries are currently featured on the LIAC at Freeport’s website, www.liacfreeport.org and will eventually be published in a booklet.

Feliz, a junior, was awarded a third honorable mention for her piece, “Non Compos Mentis.” Johnson, a senior, achieved second place for his poem, “Gradient.”

According to the LIAC at Freeport, the goal of the contest was to inspire students who may never have written a poem to write one, and to encourage those who have to further develop the art of writing a poem. Submissions were judged on originality, creativity and artistic quality.