River of Words, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Library of Congress Center for the Book, announced two LSU Laboratory School students, 2009 graduate David Lauve,and rising junior Caroline Devlin, among the young winners and finalists of the fourteenth-annual Environmental Poetry and Art contest, the largest youth poetry competition in the world. 

Lauve and Devlin’s works were among 50 selected from more than 20,000 international entries. The duo are  two of four winning poets selected from Louisiana schools. The poems will be posted online at www.riverofwords.org  and featured in the upcoming River of Words anthology. 

Teachers of this year’s winners are Connie McDonald and Candence Robillard.  The LSU Laboratory School is a division of the LSU College of Education.

“David Lauve and Caroline Devlin have continued the success of our writing program with their recognition by River of Words,” said Lab School Principal Albert Camburn. “Annually, our English Department submits student writing to a variety of prestigious competitions, and every year University High School students are recognized for their exceptional writing ability. We are very proud of our student writers and the English Department.”

River of Words judges were co-founders Robert Hass, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner and former United States Poet Laureate, and writer Pamela Michael. They select the winning poems about the natural world and landscape art by children and youth from around the world.

 “It’s thrilling to see, year after year, these young writers and artists giving us back the places where we live through their words and images,” said Hass. “Through their explorations and reflection on their homegrounds, we are all made more aware of the beauty, history, and fragility of our natural landscape.”