Thomas L. Pate is a poet from Omaha, Nebraska. His works have been featured in multiple international publications, including Poet’s Choice, Beyond Queer Words, and others. In his free time, Thomas works as an intern for the Nebraska Writer’s Collective, writing newsletters and letters of support and thanks, creating writing prompts, editing slam videos on the All Writes Reserved YouTube Channel, searching for potential nonprofit grant opportunities in Nebraska, and sustaining the NWC Alumni Network. Thomas is currently based in Iowa City, running freelance tennis instruction and heading the University of Iowa Badminton Club as its acting President. Thomas runs a publication, The EXX Official, and is the first Freshman and LGBTQ+ student to create and run a publication in the history of the University of Iowa. His notable achievements include placing 2nd overall at the Blackberry Peach National Haiku Slam Competition, making the Finals of the Nebraska Louder Than A Bomb State Poetry Slam Team Competition (winning 1st in the group slam round), Placing 3rd in the July 2024 Omaha Slam, and winning 1st Place in the August 2024 Iowa City Poetry Slam.