Just Poetry!!! National High School Poetry Scholarship

Name: Just Poetry!!! National High School Poetry Contest

Award Amount: Up to $500 per prize

• $500 “Easterday Poetry Award” to the Poet of the Year (annually)
• $500 “Best of Issue” prize awarded quarterly (4 per year)
• $100 “Editor’s Choice” prize awarded quarterly (4 per year)

Information and Eligibility:

The Just Poetry!!! National High School Poetry Contest, produced by the Live Poets Society of New Jersey and the American High School Poets quarterly anthology, awards publication and scholarship prizes to talented high school poets across the U.S. It aims to recognize voices of originality, creativity, and poetic expression. All winning poems are published in the anthology JUST POETRY!!! or topical anthologies.

Eligibility criteria include:

• Enrollment: Must be a U.S. high school student. Eligibility continues until June 30 of senior year.
• Originality: Poems must be original, unpublished, and authored solely by the entrant.
• Length and Format: Poems must be 20 lines or fewer (excluding title and stanza spacing); maximum 75 characters per line including spaces.
• Language: Poems must be in English; foreign phrases are permitted only with a translation.
• Submission Limit: Only one poem per poet per 90‑day period.
• Entry Fee: No fee or purchase required to enter.

Application Process
All applicants must submit the following:

• Poem Submission: Submit one qualifying poem via email or U.S. mail. For mail, include contestant name, full mailing address, high school name, graduation year, and English teacher’s name on paper; include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
• Online Option: Email submissions must include the same contact and school details in the body of the message.

Deadline:

• Fall Issue: September 30
• Winter Issue: December 31
• Spring Issue: March 31
• Summer Issue: June 30

Announcements:

• Winners of each quarterly issue are selected and notified shortly after the deadline.
• The annual “Poet of the Year” (Easterday Poetry Award) is chosen from among the Best of Issue and Editor’s Choice winners and awarded in August.

Awards are disbursed after verification of college enrollment. Winners receive publication of their work and scholarship funds payable toward tuition or other educational expenses.

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