bell hooks Memorial Writing Contest winners announced

Winners of the bell hooks Memorial Writing Contest were celebrated on Sunday, March 24, at Christian County Middle School’s Performing Arts Center.

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This is the third year the literacy council has sponsored a writing contest in memory of bell hooks. A Hopkinsville native, she was born Gloria Jean Watkins in 1952 and died at her home in Berea in December 2021. hooks was a feminist author and activist. She wrote more than 30 books, including several for children. 

The winners were:

Short form

Ages 5 to 8
First Place: Mariah Grace Gbemudu

Ages 9 to 12
First place: Kortayaa Butler
Second place: Jazariah Mack

Ages 13 to 17
First place: Maeby Irving

Adult
First place: Pam Dossett

Long form

Ages 13 to 17
First place: Lillian Zigelhofer

Adult
First place: Nicole Upchurch

Chassity Mumford, who starred in “Cinderella” at the Alhambra, performed during the program. Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, and Berea College Recruitment Coordinator Frank Polion were speakers during the ceremony.

Donations can be made online to support the literacy council. If you’d like more information about the event or the council, call (270) 348-8185.

Hoptown Chronicle

Hoptown Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news outlet that is dedicated to providing fair, fact-based reporting for people who care about Hopkinsville, Kentucky. We believe that public service journalism serves the community's social, cultural and economic wellbeing by fostering knowledge, connection and meaning.