Student Contests

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2024 NCPS STUDENT POETRY CONTESTS

Contests for NC student poets opened on November 1, 2023 and will close on Friday, February 2, 2024.

Each winning student poem will be published in the NC Poetry Society’s annual Pinesong anthology, which features all of the contest winners and their poems.  For more information about current and past issues of Pinesong, click here.

1st Place winners will receive a $60 check, an NCPS award certificate, and a free copy of Pinesong.

2nd Place winners receive $40, an NCPS award certificate, and a free copy of Pinesong.

3rd Place winners receive $25, an NCPS award certificate, and a free copy of Pinesong.

Honorable Mention winners (up to three per contest) are also chosen. These winners receive an NCPS award certificate and a free copy of Pinesong.

 

What are the contest categories?

The Travis Tuck Jordan Award
Endowed by Dorothy and Oscar Pederson

  • for students in Grades 3 — 5.

The Joan Scott Memorial Award
Endowed by contributions in memory of Joan Scott and by the Board of the NC Poetry Society

  • for poems about the environment
  • for students in Grades 5 — 9.

The Mary Chilton Award
Sponsored by Tori Reynolds

  • for students in Grades 6 — 9.

The Sherry Pruitt Award
Endowed by Gail Peck

  • for students in Grades 10 — 12

The Undergraduate Award

  • for students whose parents or guardians live in the state of North Carolina or are attending a North Carolina college or university.  

Poems may be in any form, but may not exceed 32 lines per poem, including line breaks within the poem.  No copies will be returned.

Please DO NOT add pictures or images with your poem.  Poems do not need to be centered on the page; they can be written flush left.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • Submit only ONE poem per category.  You may be eligible to submit a poem in more than on category.
  • Please do not send a concrete poem (one whose shape matches its subject) because of formatting issues.
  • Type your poem in 12-point Times New Roman font.
  • Be sure your poem does not exceed 32 lines.

If you are emailing your poem:

  • In the subject line, list the award category you are submitting to.
  • At the top of each email, list your name, mailing address, and phone number.
  • Below that, type or paste your poem into the body of the email.
  • Fill out the official 2024 Student Contest Form and attach it to your email.
  • Send the email to the contest coordinator.

If you are mailing your poem:

  • Do not put your student name or address anywhere on the poem, since judging is anonymous.  Include two copies of your poem.
  • In the upper left-hand corner, put the name of the award category.
  • Fill out the official 2024 Student Contest Form and send it along with the two copies of the poem to the mailing address below.

Entries must be postmarked no later than February 2, 2024.

Where do I mail my contest entries?

Mail your entries to

Nancy Martin-Young
NCPS Student Contest Coordinator
3301 Bentwillow Drive
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

If you have any questions, you may email the contest coordinator.

When will I know if I have won an award?

Winners will be notified in late March 2024.  Winners will be invited read at our Awards Day in May.  

What about other poetry opportunities?

Winners and honorable mentions in college, high school, or middle school are invited to apply to become Student Poets in the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series.

We look forward to receiving your fabulous poems.  

Happy writing and good luck!