UAH alumna's book named as one of three finalists for state poetry award

Carey Link's (‘08 BA Psychology) recent book, Awakening to Holes in the Arc of the Sun, has been named as one of three finalists for The Alabama State Poetry Society's Book of the Year Award. In addition, one of Link's poems "Decoding the Colorless Puzzle" has been published in the national publication, The Birmingham Poetry Review (Spring 2017).

Awakening to Holes in the Arc of the Sun is a full-length poetry collection about polar opposites. "Carey Link's poetry is a lyrical rainbow of color that emerges from shadows to create her very own light," said Dr. Sue Brannan Walker, former Poet Laureate of Alabama and Stokes Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at The University of South Alabama.

Although Link earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2008, lately the UAH alumna has achieved notoriety as a published poet. Her first poetry chapbook entitled What it Means to Climb a Tree was published in 2011. Her fascination with trees as a theme began in a poetry writing class several years ago, when Kelly Cherry, renowned poet and visiting eminent Scholar in the Humanities, taught at UAH.

Link said while it is gratifying to be a published poet, her ultimate goal is to share herself with others.

At UAH Link used a wheelchair, and her independence blossomed while she was a student at the university. A preemie at birth, she was also born with cerebral palsy. During Link’s time at UAH she blazed a trail for herself and other students with physical disabilities by subtly leading the charge for equal access to buildings, services, and activities available to her able-bodied peers.

Link is the daughter of James M. and Judy Link (Lieutenant General U.S. Army, Retired).

"My parents taught me to be my own advocate. I think my presence at UAH helped create awareness about problems with accessibility at the university...there have been positive changes focused around access at UAH. People had to work together to make these changes happen, and I thank all who did."

Link first became interested in psychology and counseling after taking a class in her junior year of high school. Most recently, she was employed as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist on Redstone Arsenal. "My UAH educational experience has contributed to my career success by instilling in me the importance of affective communication."

She received the Goals 2000 Service Award, and served as a judge in the 2014 Poetry Out Loud competition sponsored by the UAH Department of English. Additionally, she received the Scott Lawrence Rainbow Award, a Scholastic Writing Award from the Creative Writing Magnet Program, the President’s Award for outstanding Community Service, the Alabama Exemplary Youth Service Award, and the outstanding Achievement Award from United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley.

Link was named as first runner-up for Ms. Wheelchair Alabama and earned a scholarship. Her poetry has been published in local, statewide, national, and international publications, some of which include The Allegheny Review and The Birmingham Arts Journal.