WSU senior uses her love of civic engagement and poetry to win coveted award

Author By Steve Nakata, Student Affairs

Senior Jada Rome was in complete shock when she learned she had won the Washington State University Campus Civic Poet Award — so much so that she could not speak or read the congratulatory email out loud.

The Campus Civic Poet Award, sponsored by the Department of English and the WSU Martin Luther King, Jr. Program, recognizes students who are dedicated to civic engagement and poetry. The award comes with a $500 scholarship, and opportunities for Rome to read her poetry at civic events and receive mentorship from English faculty.

As the events coordinator for the Black Student Union and a recovery coach for Cougs For Recovery, Rome is deeply engaged in the WSU community. The Comparative Ethnic Studies and Creative Writing major had aspired to compete for the award ever since she attended her first Open Mic competition on her 19^th birthday.

She expressed her desire to share her poetry at the event with Linda Russo, scholarly associate professor of English and director of Creative Writing, who encouraged her to get involved. During Rome’s second year, she submitted three self-written poems to the competition but came up short. This further fueled her motivation to keep trying. For the 2024-2025 contest, she submitted five original pieces that explore Black experiences, struggles with mental illness, and a journey toward hope and joy.

“My poetry is a reflection of my soul and mind, and it allows me to express myself in unique ways, aiming to connect deeply with my audience,” Rome said. “I strive for each piece to resonate with readers, inviting them to feel my pain, love, and vulnerability.”

Rome said winning the award is one of the highlights of her WSU experience and she is eager to share her poetry with the WSU community whenever opportunities arise.