Earlier this year, Crossroads School second-grader Lucinda Empson-Speiden, the daughter of Rachel Klauber-Speiden and Josh Empson, submitted a poem to a contest that was held for student writers through the United States and Canada.
Lucinda’s poem, “Seashell,” was selected from thousands of entries as one of the 10 best in her grade division. The contest was held for students in grades K-12. The top 10 writers in each division (grades 3-6, 7-9, 10-12) will each receive special recognition in the poetry anthology, “A Celebration of Poets.” Each top 10 winner receives a complimentary copy of the anthology and a $25 check. Poems are selected for their literary merit, creativity, and social significance.
Creative Communication sponsors this contest to offer a creative outlet that honors youth. Too often the efforts of young writers are unrecognized and they lose their motivation to express themselves.
Creative Communication awards thousands of dollars to schools each year in classroom supplies with its Classroom Rewards Program to further encourage young people’s writings, and over the past 20 years has given over $1 million in grants and awards to students, schools, and teachers.
The upcoming poetry contest deadline is Dec. 5, 2013. Creative Communication also sponsors essay contests. The next essay contest deadline is Feb. 18, 2014. These are not contests where every entry is accepted for publication. Poems and essays of high merit will receive an invitation to be published in an anthology.
To enter, children can submit one original essay of 100-250 words, and/or one original poem of 21 lines or less. Enter online at www.poeticpower.com.
