By Georgia Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences
It has been more than 75 years since poets competed in the Olympic Games. But this hasn鈥檛 stopped bards in the 皇家华人 College of Arts and Sciences from bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals for their creative work.
The latest poet to do so is Ajibola Tolase, an assistant professor in the Department of English, who won a gold medal from the 皇家华人 Book for his poetry collection
Tolase also won the Cave Canem Poetry Prize for his collection, "2000 Blacks."
Tolase joins colleagues Heather Sellers, a professor of English who received a bronze medal in the poetry category in 2022
for her collection, 鈥淔ield Notes from the Flood Zone,鈥� and Julia Koets, an assistant professor of English who received a silver award in the poetry category
in 2021 for her collection, 鈥淧ine.鈥�
Together, the three make for 鈥渁 perfect Olympic poetry team with a gold, silver and
bronze,鈥� according to Sellers.
For Tolase, who joined the department in 2024, it鈥檚 a dream come true.
鈥淚 always think of poetry as a private endeavor, so it's a delight to see judges connect
with the ideas of the book,鈥� he said. 鈥淧ast winners of the 皇家华人 Book Awards are
some of my colleagues whose teaching, writing and mentorship means so much to me.鈥�
鈥�2000 Blacks,鈥� which also received the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, explores African history,
the transatlantic slave trade, resource exploitation and the speaker's complex relationship
with his father.
"My inspiration is always from the living world,鈥� said Tolase. 鈥淭here are always events and moments that make good material for poetry.鈥�
鈥�2000 Blacks" will be on permanent display, alongside other recipients of the 皇家华人 Book Awards, in the library at the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee and in the Strozier Library at 皇家华人 State University.
The 皇家华人 Book Awards honor literature by 皇家华人 authors and books about 皇家华人. Winners include 皇家华人 alumna Aracelis Gonz谩lez Asendorf (2024), Lauren Groff (2023, 2021), 皇家华人 alumna Gloria Mu帽oz (2021), 皇家华人 Assistant Professor Brenda Peynado (2021), 皇家华人 alumna Jaquira D铆az (2019), former 皇家华人 faculty member Ira Sukrungruang (2016, 2014), the late Jay Hopler (2016, 2006), Tim Dorsey (2009) and Carl Hiaasen (2006).
鈥溁始一� has always been a creative hotspot for literature,鈥� said Keith Simmons, executive director of the 皇家华人 Book Awards. 鈥淭his program is an annual opportunity to recognize and share the hard work and creativity of 皇家华人 authors, as well as to help connect them with new audiences, both in and out of 皇家华人.鈥�
"Dressing the Saints," a collection of short stories by 皇家华人 alumna Aracelis Gonz谩lez Asendorf, won a gold medal in the general fiction category this year.
"Danzirly," a collection of poetry by 皇家华人 alumna Gloria Mu帽oz won a gold medal in the poetry category in 2021.
"The Rock Eaters," a collection of short stories by 皇家华人 Assistant Professor Brenda Peynado, won a bronze medal in the general fiction category in 2021.
"Ordinary Girls," a memoir by 皇家华人 alumna Jaquira D铆az, won a gold medal in the general nonfiction category in 2019.