Outdoor Poetry Reading Marks National Poetry Month By Funke Oyelade Bowie State University showed off its creativity by celebrating National Poetry Month on April 27. The event, “Ignite the Voice Within,” was hosted near the university torch and was a reading of poetry for 12 hours between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. by students, staff and guest speakers. President Mickey L. Burnim began the event with opening remarks followed by guest speakers and students who read their poems, including French professor Evelyne Bonhomme, who read one in French by a French poet and her original poem in English. About ten people looked on as the participants read works by their favorite poets or their own poems. Some students rushing along paths on the campus quadrangle stopped to hear the poems. The poetry reading marked the first time Bowie State celebrated National Poetry Month, organizers said. A series of activities led up to the April 27 event, including a showing of "Louder than a Bomb," a poetry workshop with Bro Yao, and a preparatory workshop in the Smith Vidal Literacy Center. Dr. Monifa Love, who recruited several speakers for the outdoor poetry reading, said she felt the event was important in bringing exposure to the positive and creative side of BSU that is not widely recognized. | 
My experience at BSU has been positive. I have had the opportunity to learn from great professors who are truly interested in seeing me excel.
Dr. Kehbuma Langmia teaches research and other media-related courses in the Department of Communications for Bowie State University. A graduate from the Television and Film Academy in Munich, Germany, Langmia has extensive knowledge and training in media productions and management. 
Author Lisa Smith graduated in 1980 from Bowie State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. 
