Syracuse, New York –The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) announced today the winners of the “Poetry in Flight” contest at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). The aviation/travel themed poetry contest is a celebration of “National Poetry Month” – observed each April – in conjunction with the YMCA of Central New York’s Downtown Writers Center (DWC) and Delta Air Lines.

The poetry was judged by a panel of local writers organized by the DWC. The judging panel reviewed all submissions and chose winners and selected finalists through the month of May. Poems were required to be aviation or travel themed and were accepted in two categories: Adult and Youth. The Youth category was comprised of students in grades 6-12.

The winners of the inaugural “Poetry in Flight” poetry contest are Rebecca Myers of Ithaca, NY (Adult category) and Skylar Dannan of Cazenovia, NY (Youth category). Their poems – “Long-Haul” and “Flights,” respectively – along with those of selected finalists, are now displayed in the SYR terminal near the Regional Aviation Museum.

“We appreciate the time and creative efforts of everyone who participated in the Poetry in Flight contest,” said SYR Executive Director Jason Terreri. “We can truly say the essence of a region returning to air travel is captured by these poetic works.”

The Youth category winner, Skylar, will receive a gift basket from Barnes and Noble, as well as one year of enrollment in the Young Authors Academy at the YMCA of CNY’s DWC in Syracuse. The winner of the adult category, Rebecca, will receive a pair of round-trip plane tickets good for travel in the 48 contiguous states or Canada courtesy of Delta Air Lines.

“The fact that poets and poetry will be recognized on an ongoing basis at one of the busiest locations in Central New York is fantastic for writers and readers alike,” said Phil Memmer, Executive Director of the Arts Branch of the YMCA of CNY. “As word of this annual competition continues to spread, I’m excited to think of the terrific poems that will be written by both adults and students.”

For more information on the contest, including the winners’ and selected finalists’ poems, please visit the Poetry in Flight contest page.