TU English major wins Newman Young Poet's Award

Thursday, March 07, 2013

McCoy recognized for excellence in traditional Chinese poetry

University of Tulsa senior Spencer McCoy was recently selected to receive a Newman Young Poet’s Award for his contest entry of a classical Chinese poem. The competition is held in conjunction with the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature at the University of Oklahoma.

Spencer McCoyMcCoy’s poem and three others written by Oklahoma K-12 students were chosen from nearly 350 submissions composed in jueju, a traditional form of Chinese poetry written in English. His sonnet Sparks Drift includes only 20 words and four lines.

“I enjoyed writing this poem because the simple nature of the words allowed for greater complexity in the juxtaposition of the images,” McCoy said. "The poem was written in terms of nature.”

McCoy, an English major at TU, was honored along with the other Newman Young Poet winners at a March 7 awards banquet sponsored by the OU Institute for U.S.-China Issues. He received a $500 check and commemorative certificate.

Contact:
Gail Banzet
918-631-3730
gail-banzet@utulsa.edu