Renee Good’s Time at Old Dominion Included an Award-Winning Poem
📅 January 9, 2026
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary, The Vagabond News
As public attention continues to focus on the fatal shooting of Renee Good during a federal immigration operation, new details have emerged about her life beyond the circumstances of her death. During her time at Old Dominion University, Renee Good was recognized as a gifted writer whose poetry earned academic acclaim, including a university literary award, according to faculty members and former classmates.
Good, who was later killed during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota, studied at Old Dominion University (ODU) several years before her death. University records and interviews with those who knew her describe a student deeply engaged with creative writing, particularly poetry that explored themes of identity, displacement, and resilience.
A Voice Recognized on Campus
While enrolled at ODU, Good submitted a poem to a university-sponsored literary competition, where it received top honors in its category. The poem, according to faculty familiar with the work, reflected a strong narrative voice and emotional precision that set it apart from other submissions.
“She had a remarkable ability to translate personal experience into something universal,” said a former instructor from ODU’s English department. “Her work showed empathy, reflection, and a maturity that is rare at that stage.”
The award brought Good recognition within the university’s creative writing community and led to her participation in campus readings and workshops. Fellow students recall her as reserved but deeply thoughtful, someone who listened carefully and spoke with intention when discussing literature.
Remembered Beyond the Headlines
Since her death, much of the national conversation has focused on the circumstances surrounding the ICE operation that ended her life. However, friends and former classmates say those narratives risk overshadowing who Renee Good was as a person.
“She wasn’t just a name in a news story,” said a former peer from her writing program. “She was someone who cared about words, about meaning, and about people who felt unseen.”
Several faculty members at Old Dominion University have privately shared excerpts of her writing with colleagues, describing it as work that continues to resonate years later. While the university has not released the poem publicly, citing respect for the family’s privacy, officials confirmed that Good did receive formal recognition for her literary achievement during her enrollment.
University Response and Reflection
Old Dominion University issued a brief statement acknowledging Good’s time on campus and her academic accomplishments. “We extend our condolences to the family and all who are mourning Renee Good,” the statement read. “Her creative work remains part of the intellectual and artistic legacy of our university community.”
The university has also discussed the possibility of honoring Good through a future student poetry award or reading series, though no formal announcement has been made. Such discussions, officials said, would be undertaken in consultation with her family.
A Broader Conversation
Good’s story has become part of a wider national debate over immigration enforcement practices, use of force by federal agents, and accountability. Yet for those who knew her in an academic setting, the focus remains on her humanity and unrealized potential.
Literary scholars note that the recognition Good received, while modest in scale, is significant in understanding her life beyond tragedy. “Awards like these are markers,” said a university literature expert. “They tell us someone was seen, valued, and heard.”
Conclusion
Renee Good’s time at Old Dominion University reveals a dimension of her life often absent from breaking-news headlines: that of an award-winning poet whose words left a lasting impression on those around her. As investigations and public debate continue over her death, her academic achievements stand as a reminder that her life encompassed creativity, reflection, and promise. Remembering that fuller picture, supporters say, is essential to honoring her legacy.
Tags: Renee Good, Old Dominion University, Poetry, Campus Life, Student Achievements
Source: Old Dominion University records and interviews with faculty and classmates
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