Through her literary journey, Khadijah Halliday has traveled from the sunny shores of St. Lucia to the esteemed halls of Oberlin College in Ohio. Her most notable accomplishment to date is the awarding of the William T. Battrick Poetry Fellowship for 2024. With this recognition, she stands out among the new generation of poets and establishes herself as a bright future voice in the literary community.
The Battrick Poetry Fellowship was created in 1990 by the kind gift of Oberlin alumni William T. Battrick and is awarded annually to a student who shows extraordinary promise in poetry. This honor, according to Halliday, a third-year student seeking dual degrees in psychology and creative writing, is evidence of her commitment to and proficiency in the poetry genre.
- Advertisement -
Oberlin College, which is well known for its excellent creative writing courses, offers the perfect setting for developing Halliday’s abilities. Her compelling spoken word performances, which attracted notice and praise in her home St. Lucia, served as the catalyst for her path to this esteemed fellowship. Using this as a starting point, she developed her talents at St. Joseph’s Convent and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, where her love of poetry blossomed.
Beyond just being acknowledged, the Battrick Fellowship is important because it propels Halliday’s ongoing development as a poet. She will also receive a monetary prize in addition to the honor, a concrete demonstration of the fellowship’s dedication to supporting emerging writers.
As Halliday gets ready to take part in the Creative Writing Awards Reading on April 29 at Oberlin’s Dye Lecture Hall, her journey approaches yet another significant point. She will exhibit her art here among colleagues, demonstrating the breadth and originality that have won her this esteemed scholarship.
Beyond her accomplishments, Halliday’s fame draws attention to the rich cultural legacy of St. Lucia. Her voyage reflects the rich cultural fabric of the island, which is defined by the ongoing history of artistic expression and storytelling. As Halliday keeps refining her voice, her community, both domestically and internationally, looks up to her as an inspiration and a source of pride.
The announcement of Khadijah Halliday as a recipient of the Battrick Poetry Fellowship represents more than just one poet’s achievement; it also highlights the poetry’s ability to reach readers across boundaries and inspire empathy. Poetry has an enduring appeal, and Halliday is a shining example for upcoming poets as she continues to weave her words into the fabric of literary greatness.
