On Tuesday, May 20, high school students gathered at Organ Mountain High School to perform original poetry for the 4th Annual Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Poetry Contest.
More than 40 poems were submitted by students from local high schools, with winners selected in each grade level, along with an overall “Best in Show” and several honorable mentions.
Ben Trujillo, husband of the late Dr. Karen M. Trujillo, welcomed students, families, and guests to the event. Tim Staley served as master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through an evening of creativity and reflection.
Guest speaker Ricardo “Rico” Gonzales, Regional Vice President – New Mexico at El Paso Electric and a member of the New Mexico State University Board of Regents, also addressed the audience. Gonzalez serves on the board of the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Foundation, which organizes the annual contest.
The evening began with remarks from judge and former NMSU poetry professor Joseph Somoza.
Students then took the stage to read their winning poems aloud. Poems stood out as personal, thought-provoking works that reflected on life, identity, and lived experience.
Thanks to generous community support and donations from sponsors across New Mexico, all winning students received cash prizes during the award ceremony.
Since its founding, the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Foundation has secured over $600,000 in endowed scholarships to support future educators attending public universities in New Mexico.
Congratulations to all student participants for their creativity and courage. For more information about the foundation, visit www.beakarennm.org.
Winners of the 2025 Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Poetry Contest
Honorable Mentions:
Bellatrix Jimenez, OMHS – “Constellations”
Kehler Marlatt, OMHS – “Stained Curtains”
Michael Taylor, OMHS – “The Fire? Place”
9th Grade Best Poem:
Arturo Luna, OMHS – “Empty Threads”
10th Grade Best Poem:
Dia Maria Cornado Manzanares, MHS – “Touch”
Uyen Dang, CHS – “Tube Man”
Anton Abalos, CHS – “I Still”
11th Grade Best Poem:
Charlotte Dennis, MHS – “Unrestrained Rage”
Nayeli Rivera, OMHS – “Uniformity”
12th Grade Best Poem:
Angie Campos, OMHS – “Devil Incogniton”
Best in Show:
Dayana Medina-Ramirez, OMHS – “Severed Wounds”
Special thanks to our judges:
Dina Honeycut – Former English Teacher
Delilah Garcia – Former Contest Winner
Joseph Somoza – Former NMSU Poetry Professor
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