Toni Jo Zeigler

Toni Jo Zeigler, a senior at Emory & Henry College who will graduate in Fall 2020 with a major in Creative Writing and a minor in Psychology, is the 2020 winner of the Leidig Poetry Prize for the poem “Balance” selected by Tyehimba Jess.

Zeigler believes the best way to cherish the glory in everyday moments is to write about them. For them, writing is a form of reverence. Zeigler says, “This poem is meant to draw attention to the light and dark of the world, mixing a certain playfulness with something much more sinister. The church and the graveyard work in tandem to achieve a fuller picture than either image could create on its own.” 

Class of:

2020

Major/s

English Literature and Creative Writing

Hometown

Ferrum, VA