English was not Madi Gentles’ first language.

Adopted from Ghana at the age of 3, Gentles, or Queenstar Maa Adjoa at birth, first spoke Twi, a dialect native to the West African country.

Yet, in the final semester of her senior year of high school, she swept first place in all three categories of Prairie View A&M University’s 2023 Toni Morrison Writing Contest, surprising and capturing the attention of judges and University officials alike.

“I’m really honored,” said Gentles, who started her PVAMU journey this semester. “I really liked writing, but I didn’t think I was really any good at it.”

Gentles started writing at an early age. She used it as an outlet to communicate and better understand herself. “I found that writing doesn’t just do this internally, but it can be projected and help you communicate, heal and understand others as well,” she said.

Dr. Emma Joahanne Thomas-Smith, PVAMU provost emerita who oversees the Toni Morrison Writing Program, calls Gentles “a writer’s writer.” Dr. Thomas-Smith explained a different judge was assigned to read entries in each category, and there was no collaboration among the judges. “This is really an amazing feat for this young lady because that means that her writing rose to the top in a clearly objective process.”

The annual contest for high school seniors features three genres – poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction – with a first-place cash prize in each category of $3,000, a second-place prize for $2,000 and a third-place prize of $1,000. As the first-place winner in all three categories, the first-year student from Richmond, Texas, secured $9,000 cash and another $9,000 in scholarships to help with her college expenses.

The judges, who have no affiliation with PVAMU, consisted of professional writers involved in the work of the highly regarded K-12 Writers in the Schools Program.

Judging poetry was Tavonia Lewis, Tasmine Harrell judged fiction, and Victoria Richards judged non-fiction. “They are all connected to the literary arts in that they perform on their own and teach young writers,” Thomas-Smith said. She added, “Each one contributes to students’ development as writers in many ways. Each feels honored to have been asked to support the University’s Toni Morrison Writing Contest for High School Seniors.”

Among high schools represented among the 2023 winners were Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas; George Ranch High School in Richmond, Texas; Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas; Waller High School in Waller, Texas; and Lamar High School and Westbury High School both of which are in Houston, Texas.

“My poetry submissions were my favorite, just because poetry has always been the most vulnerable and transparent form of writing I do. I feel like every time I write poetry, it is a direct window to whatever emotion I am experiencing within my soul,” said the George Ranch graduate.

Gentles said her childhood influenced much of her writing, and she praised her adoptive parents for “always being very supportive and there for her.” Her writing also captured the evolution of her sense of self. Gentles realizes she is “not tragically misplaced or unknown” but rather “we are all foreigners – strangers to each other,” as she learns about “being uniquely yourself and standing in awe at how you can be connected to and empowered by everyone around you despite your differences.”

In one of her poetry submissions, “To the Gates of Heaven,” she wrote, “I ate my shadow. I ate my silhouette. I opened up the door to let the light consume me. That is what I am now – a brilliance of light.”

Despite her proven writing skills, Gentles entered PVAMU as a biology major this fall. She aspires to be an OB-GYN after her parents told her about the alarming maternal mortality rates, especially among Black women.

Whether with her words or hands, she hopes to offer people healing.

“I love the spirit of Prairie View,” she said. “I love how excited and invested all the students are, and I want to be a part of that.”

And the University is glad to have her. In the words of Dr. Thomas-Smith,” the University is proud to welcome new Panther, Madi Gentles, to ‘The Hill’ where ‘excellence lives.’”