April 30, 2008 — As she ran through the entrance of the Cyril E. King Airport Wednesday evening, Shawntay Henry was greeted by the warm embrace of friends and family who turned out to celebrate her recent victory in a national poetry competition.
This was the first year that a student from the Virgin Islands participated in the 2008 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, held in Washington, D.C. Henry, a Charlotte Amalie High School sophomore, took first place with her recitation of the poem "Frederick Douglass" by Robert E. Hayden. (See "Well Versed: St. Thomas Student Wins National Poetry Competition.")
About 30 minutes before Shawntay's plane landed, the airport rustled with supporters preparing for her arrival. Her grandfather, Sylvester Henry, stood front and center at the runway entrance, holding up a poster that read simply, "Congratulations, Shawntay."
Sylvester Henry said his granddaughter called him the night before the competition.
"I knew she was going to win," he said. "I just told her that what she had to do was go out there and say her poem with a clear voice, and to show action with her hands. I knew if she did that, she would be fine. And she did it — she won, because she's amazing and has a lot of talent."
Shawntay had her own cheering section in the form of CAHS' cheerleaders, who came to the airport with their uniforms, pom-poms and a huge gold-and-blue school banner. A local DJ was there, as well, playing Queen's "We Are the Champions," along with CAHS faculty and staff who came bearing fruit baskets and other gifts.
The champ also earned recognition on the national level, with articles appearing on the National Public Radio website. A three-minute clip of Shawntay's winning performance can be heard at npr.org.
"It felt really good to do the television and radio shows," Shawntay said during a brief interview before leaving the airport to appear on Channel 12's Face to Face. "I feel kind of like a celebrity."
Remaining calm and poised while she talked, Shawntay said she was "excited" to have won the honor for the territory.
"I'm excited, I'm happy, I cried — there are so many emotions mixed up," she said. "But it was good to come home and have such a warm welcome."
For students who strive to enter and excel in future competitions, Shawntay offered these words of advice: "Just keep your head up. Know that you can do it, and make sure to have positive friends who influence you and push you forward. You don't want negative energy to rub off on you. If you keep that in mind and focus on what you want to do, you can achieve anything."
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