Winslow Hastie, Jr. a senior at Charleston County School of the Arts (SOA) was one of five students chosen as a National Student Poet by The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers partner to present the National Student Poets Program (NSPP), the country’s highest honor for youth poets presenting original work.
The five outstanding high school poets whose work exhibits exceptional creativity, dedication to craft, and promise are selected annually for a year of service as national poetry ambassadors.
“Charleston County School of the Arts is thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of this gifted writer,” said Principal Dr. Shannon Cook. “We look forward to seeing this opportunity unfold and the contributions he will make through this platform.”
National Student Poets are chosen from the National Medalists in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards with input from a jury of established poets and leaders in education and the arts. Throughout their year of service, the Poets will serve as literary ambassadors and will share their passion for poetry, literacy, and the literary arts with their communities and throughout their regions. Engagement includes
service projects, workshops, and public readings. In addition, each Poet will receive a $5,000 academic award.
Hastie is in the Creative Writing program at SOA. He began writing poetry in elementary school and has continued in middle and high school through SOA. Living in Charleston for most of his life, he has learned to love and appreciate the outdoors and finds inspiration in the landscape and wildlife around him in the Lowcountry. Hastie frequently uses nature and the outdoors as common themes throughout his poetry and short stories. He enjoys using poetry as a medium to articulate and convey imagery, in particular, to recreate vivid images from the natural world.
"Mr. Hammes, Ms. DeTiberus, and I could not be more proud of Winslow,” added Beth Webb Hart, SOA Creative Writing teacher. “He came into our program in sixth grade with a distinct voice, a keen eye for detail, and a deep-seated love for the natural wonders of the Lowcountry. Through the years, he has – with genuine ardor – steadfastly honed these gifts to become not only a stellar wordsmith but also, an encourager to his classmates, whom he challenges and uplifts on a daily basis in our writing workshop. He’s going to be an exceptional poetry ambassador."
For more information, contact Dr. Shannon Cook at (843) 529-4990. ###
