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NEW YORK STATE AUTHOR & STATE POET AWARD CEREMONY 2008

New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer and First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer presented the Edith Wharton Citation of Merit as State Author to fiction writer Mary Gordon, and the Walt Whitman Citation of Merit as State Poet to poet Jean Valentine at a special ceremony held at the Capitol on Monday, March 3rd.

State Author & State Poet Group

From left: New York State Writers Institute Executive Director William Kenney; Governor Eliot Spitzer; First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer; New York State Author Mary Gordon; New York State Poet Jean Valentine; Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson; New York State Writers Institute Director Donald Faulkner

 

 

State Author & State Poet  AwardsWilliam Kennedy

Awards winnersGeorge Phillip

Mary GordonFirst Lady Silda Wall Spitzer and Jean Valentine


Jean ValentineMary Gordon and Jean Valentine

Georeg Phillip with Mary Gordon and Jean ValentineStanding: William Kennedy, Interim UAlbany President George Philip, Donald Faulkner. Seated: Mary Gordon and Jean Valentine

Mary GordonStanding: William Kennedy; Chairman SUNY Board of Trustees Carl Hayden, George Philip, Donald Faulkner