By: Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director
The annual Northeast Texas Poetry Reading on Friday, 8 September at 11 AM will again occur at the Foyer of the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts on the Northeast Texas Community College campus. The public is invited for this free event, the sixteenth of its kind in as many years. As before, the Reading will feature the six readings of the highest ranked poems of the adult and student divisions, and a presentation of winning Northeast Texas images. This year, two speakers also will share their perceptions of our region, Pittsburg Mayor David Abernathy, and the NTCC Dean of Workforce, Dr. Miles Young.
Mayor Abernathy has served the citizens of Pittsburg and Camp County for most of his life. He has been a volunteer firefighter for over 47 years and was co-founder and 13-year president of Camp County Emergency Medical Service (EMS). He is the son of the late D. H. Abernathy, who was mayor of Pittsburg for 52 years. Miles Young received his Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Nebraska. He has both an M.B.A. and a Master’s in Public Service Administration from A&M, and has worked for fourteen years in administrative roles in higher education.
NTCC Honors Director, Dr. Andrew P. Yox notes that “sixteen years of celebrating our corner of the world has been apropos when we consider the amenities of land, and space, water and power, freedom and peace that we have enjoyed. Whether it is the amicability of our church-and-school towns, or the tranquility of the green pastures and quiet waters of our countryside, we have a special endowment. We are also very thankful this year for the support shown to us, for the second year in a row, by Brad and Krisan Sears of Mount Vernon, who are making our Texas-sized awards possible. We are grateful as well to two very busy individuals, Mayor Abernathy, and Dr. Miles Young, taking the time to talk to us.”
The deadline for the poetry and image-submissions is noon, Friday, 1 September. Over $1,000 in Prizes will be awarded, including $400 for the best student poem. Send questions, poems and images to the NTCC Honors Director, Dr. Andrew P. Yox at ayox@ntcc.edu. Poems should address something of the character, culture or history of Northeast Texas. Images should try to capture something definitive or interesting about the area.
