Organised by the Faculty of Arts, and co-organised by the Morningside College, the Department of English and English Language Teaching Unit, the CUHK Poetry Contest 2025 ran from June to October 2025. As a highlight of the CUHK Artist-in-Residence Programme 2025, the university-wide contest drew over ninety submissions from students across seven Faculties.
Three outstanding poems were selected by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, acclaimed author and translator, and CUHK Artist-in-Residence 2025, Professor Forrest Gander, together with the selection panel:
First Place – “things to ask a grandmother” by Tiffany Wing Ying, Year 1, MPhil in Literary Studies, Department of English, Faculty of Arts
Second Place – “War Cry into the Wall Between Us” by Leung Ho Yee Holly, Year 3, BA in English, Department of English, Faculty of Arts
Third Place – “ode to asian koel” by Vinci Yung, Year 1, MSc in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine
An Award Presentation Ceremony was held on 11 November to celebrate the winners and recognise the creativity of all participants. Building on this momentum, students from various disciplines had earlier joined two poetry workshops with Professor Gander, who shared insights on poetic craft and guided them through exercises to enrich sensory detail in their writing. His passion for poetry and humanity sparked lively conversations, with many staying behind to ask “just one more question.”
The Programme Committee would like to express its sincere gratitude to the selection panel members: Professor Ann Huss (Morningside College), Ms Jenna Lee (English Language Teaching Unit), Professor Collier Nogues and Professor Eddie Tay (Department of English).
This year, the CUHK Artist-in-Residence Programme showcased and celebrated the poetic excellence of the CUHK community. Going forward, the Programme will continue to promote creativity and to foster artistic and cross-cultural dialogue across the University.
