The Live Poets Society of New Jersey hosts the National High School Poetry Contest each year, with submission options and scholarship awards offered each quarter. The Poet of the Year will win $500; 20 to 30 quarterly winners will be selected for scholarships, and hundreds of topical winners will receive publication of their work.
Scholarship Details
- Financial need not required
- Quarterly submissions accepted
- Awards range from publication opportunities to $500 scholarships
- Submissions accepted on a rolling basis
- Entries may be emailed or sent through physical mail
Eligibility Criteria
- Current high school student
- Poems must be 20 lines or less, written in English, and previously unpublished
- Submission of only 1 poem per 90 day period is permitted
Application Process
- Compose your poetry submission
- Ensure your poem follows all guidelines for the contest
- Either email your poem (plain text, not as an attachment) or mail it in a letter to the Live Poets Society of New Jersey
- Include your full name, mailing address, high school, year of graduation, and the name of your English teacher in your email or letter
- If chosen for publication or a scholarship award, formally accept the offer to claim it
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis with quarterly deadlines for separate issues of the National High School Poetry Contest's magazine. Ownership of poem entries remains with the entrant, regardless of eventual publication.
