"It’s been important to me to make sure that I have a space, and that the generation that comes after me also has a space in this world that’s been closed off to us for a long time."
—Irén Hangen Vázquez
Irén is a senior at Burr and Burton Academy and the winner of this year’s Vermont Poetry Out Loud poetry recitation contest. She went on to compete at the national finals on May 27 against eight other competitors for the top prize of $20,000. While Irén did not place in the national finals, her achievement is enormous.
Before the national finals, she spoke with us about poetry, pursuing a dual degree in music and physics, honoring one's heritage through art, and more.