One of PST's central values is to encourage young poets. Long-time West Tennessee member Frances Cowden has been instrumental in this outreach, and has been recognized by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies for her work. Educator and poet Seth Grindstaff carries on this tradition as lead for our student poetry contests once again for 2023-2024.
ABOUT OUR STUDENT CONTESTS
PST sponsors a contest open to all Tennessee students; non-residents may enter if they join PST as student members. Student categories are shown below:
PUBLICATION
First place poems will be published in Tennessee Voices, PST's poetry anthology. Where to buy.
ABOUT OUR STUDENT CONTESTS
PST sponsors a contest open to all Tennessee students; non-residents may enter if they join PST as student members. Student categories are shown below:
- Elementary (Grades 2-5)
- Middle School (Grades 6-8)
- High School (Grades 9-12)
PUBLICATION
First place poems will be published in Tennessee Voices, PST's poetry anthology. Where to buy.
2023/2024 PST STUDENT POETRY CONTEST
ABOUT THE CONTEST
High School Division (Grades 9-12) Free Verse Poem: postmark deadline Dec. 22, 2023
Middle School Division (Grades 6-8) Free Verse Poem: postmark deadline Dec. 22, 2023
Elementary Division (Grades 2-5) Any Poem Form: postmark deadline Feb. 16, 2024
Contest Awards: 1st place $25, 2nd $20, 3rd $15, 4th $10, & 5th $5.
Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) will announce winners in spring of 2024. Winning poems will be published in the 2023-2024 edition of PST's anthology, Tennessee Voices.
CONTEST GUIDELINES
1. The competition is free and open to all Tennessee students in grades 2-12. Public, private, and home school students are eligible. Each student may submit only one poem.
2. Formatting: Entries must follow the guidelines for their poems to be considered in the competition.
Copy #1 (the “information” copy) (also see Example Copy #1 below)
On the top left corner of the paper above the poem entrant must note the following:
division (elementary, middle, or high school) student’s first & last name student’s grade
name of school
school street address
teacher’s prefix (Mr/Ms) & first & last name teacher’s email
Type and sign the following statement on the bottom of Copy #1 (the “information” copy):
I certify that this poem is my original work and has not been copied in whole or part from any authors’ poems published in print or on the Internet.
Signed: __________________________________________
Copy #2 (the “poem only” copy) must only include the “division” (elementary, middle, or high school) in the top left corner of the paper above the poem. (see Example Copy #2)
4. Teacher Submission Instructions
Student work will not be returned.
Do not staple Copy #1 and Copy #2 together.
All poems must be postmarked by Dec. 22nd (high school and middle school) and Feb. 16th (elementary). Mail entries to the following address:
Attn: Seth Grindstaff 220 Sunny Slopes Dr. Jonesborough, TN 37659
Get a printer-friendly copy of instructions here.
ABOUT THE CONTEST
High School Division (Grades 9-12) Free Verse Poem: postmark deadline Dec. 22, 2023
Middle School Division (Grades 6-8) Free Verse Poem: postmark deadline Dec. 22, 2023
Elementary Division (Grades 2-5) Any Poem Form: postmark deadline Feb. 16, 2024
Contest Awards: 1st place $25, 2nd $20, 3rd $15, 4th $10, & 5th $5.
Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) will announce winners in spring of 2024. Winning poems will be published in the 2023-2024 edition of PST's anthology, Tennessee Voices.
CONTEST GUIDELINES
1. The competition is free and open to all Tennessee students in grades 2-12. Public, private, and home school students are eligible. Each student may submit only one poem.
2. Formatting: Entries must follow the guidelines for their poems to be considered in the competition.
- Your poem must be single spaced, typed in Times News Roman font size 12.
- Your poem must fit on a single page.
- Your poem must have a title.
- Do not include any illustrations or pictures.
Copy #1 (the “information” copy) (also see Example Copy #1 below)
On the top left corner of the paper above the poem entrant must note the following:
division (elementary, middle, or high school) student’s first & last name student’s grade
name of school
school street address
teacher’s prefix (Mr/Ms) & first & last name teacher’s email
Type and sign the following statement on the bottom of Copy #1 (the “information” copy):
I certify that this poem is my original work and has not been copied in whole or part from any authors’ poems published in print or on the Internet.
Signed: __________________________________________
Copy #2 (the “poem only” copy) must only include the “division” (elementary, middle, or high school) in the top left corner of the paper above the poem. (see Example Copy #2)
4. Teacher Submission Instructions
Student work will not be returned.
Do not staple Copy #1 and Copy #2 together.
All poems must be postmarked by Dec. 22nd (high school and middle school) and Feb. 16th (elementary). Mail entries to the following address:
Attn: Seth Grindstaff 220 Sunny Slopes Dr. Jonesborough, TN 37659
Get a printer-friendly copy of instructions here.
2023-2024 Student Poetry Contests Example Entry Pages
Example Copy #1
division (elementary, middle, or high school) student’s first & last name student’s grade
name of school
school street address
teacher’s prefix (Mr/Ms) & first & last name teacher’s email
I certify that this poem is my original work and has not been copied in whole or part from any authors’ poems published in print or on the Internet.
Signed: __________________________________________
Poem Title
Poem stanzas....
Example Copy #2
division (elementary, middle, or high school)
Poem title
Poem stanzas...
Example Copy #1
division (elementary, middle, or high school) student’s first & last name student’s grade
name of school
school street address
teacher’s prefix (Mr/Ms) & first & last name teacher’s email
I certify that this poem is my original work and has not been copied in whole or part from any authors’ poems published in print or on the Internet.
Signed: __________________________________________
Poem Title
Poem stanzas....
Example Copy #2
division (elementary, middle, or high school)
Poem title
Poem stanzas...
2022/2023 PST STUDENT POETRY CONTEST WINNERS
High School Division
1st Place: “The Story of Us” by Angelene Sta. Cruz, Concord Academy, Memphis
2nd Place: “elegy for the orange market” by Addyson Owens, West Ridge High, Blountville
3rd Place: “[come up with a better title later]” by Kate Rutherford, Houston County High, Erin
4th Place: “ROYGBIV” by Sammy Smith, West Ridge High, Blountville
5th Place: “Let Me Tell You Why I Seem Optimistic, But Really, I Am Uneasy” by Angela Jefferson, Cascade High, Bell Buckle
Honorable Mentions:
Middle School Division
1st Place: “Where I’m From” by Quinn Alderman, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “Theseus and Aegeus” by Harrison Nickele, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
3rd Place: “They See” by Loara Coleman, Ivy Academy, Soddy Daisy
4th Place: “What Fall Means to Me” by Emmaline Strong, Saint Henry School, Nashville
5th Place (tie): “Thanksgiving” by Hayes Dombroski, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis, and “Summer on Glass Lake” by Jack Moran, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
Honorable Mentions:
Elementary Division
1st Place: “Dear Poem” by Nickie Downey, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “The World” by Braelynn Taylor, Bradford Elementary, Bradford
3rd Place: “Beach” by Morgan Cushing, Columbia Academy, Columbia
4th Place: “Hermosa Mariposa / Beautiful Butterfly” by Mary Karis Parrman, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
5th Place: “La Naturaleza / Nature” by Kylee Kemmet, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
Honorable Mentions:
Many thanks to all entrants, to teachers and parents, and to judges for making this event such a success.
High School Division
1st Place: “The Story of Us” by Angelene Sta. Cruz, Concord Academy, Memphis
2nd Place: “elegy for the orange market” by Addyson Owens, West Ridge High, Blountville
3rd Place: “[come up with a better title later]” by Kate Rutherford, Houston County High, Erin
4th Place: “ROYGBIV” by Sammy Smith, West Ridge High, Blountville
5th Place: “Let Me Tell You Why I Seem Optimistic, But Really, I Am Uneasy” by Angela Jefferson, Cascade High, Bell Buckle
Honorable Mentions:
- “Thank You” by Keri Cochran, West Ridge High, Blountville
- “Beauty in Command” by Tanner Gross, West Ridge High, Blountville
- “Decaying Beauty” by Kaelyn Kelly, Houston County High, Erin
- “Stop Stargazing” by Kensley Boone, Houston County High, Erin
- “Skywatcher” by Carolina Richardson, Houston County High, Erin
- “Once, I Climbed a Tree” by Heidi Laramy, Madison Academic High, Jackson
- “The Fight” by Mia Campochiaro, Concord Academy, Memphis
- “eulogy from the dead” by Frankie Bond, Houston County High, Erin
- ”Beneath the Faerie Circle” by Riley Rutherford, Houston County High, Erin
Middle School Division
1st Place: “Where I’m From” by Quinn Alderman, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “Theseus and Aegeus” by Harrison Nickele, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
3rd Place: “They See” by Loara Coleman, Ivy Academy, Soddy Daisy
4th Place: “What Fall Means to Me” by Emmaline Strong, Saint Henry School, Nashville
5th Place (tie): “Thanksgiving” by Hayes Dombroski, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis, and “Summer on Glass Lake” by Jack Moran, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
Honorable Mentions:
- “Freefall” by Libby Link, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
- “Fall” by Marin Colley, Saint Henry School, Nashville
- “Jellyfish” by Ilyssa Tilley, Ocoee Middle School, Cleveland
- “My Crystal Light” by Sarah Burton, Saint Henry Middle School, Nashville
- “The Ironic Poem” by Zac Sayer, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
- “Sick” by Isabella McAuley, Saint Henry School, Nashville
- “Cold Winter” by Trenton Brumfield, Ivy Academy, Soddy Daisy
- “Birds Will Remain” by Oneira Caviness, White Station Middle School, Memphis
- “The Art of Lying” by Abby Albonetti, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
- “Xena” by Gracie Lirette, Woodland Presbyterian School, Memphis
Elementary Division
1st Place: “Dear Poem” by Nickie Downey, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
2nd Place: “The World” by Braelynn Taylor, Bradford Elementary, Bradford
3rd Place: “Beach” by Morgan Cushing, Columbia Academy, Columbia
4th Place: “Hermosa Mariposa / Beautiful Butterfly” by Mary Karis Parrman, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
5th Place: “La Naturaleza / Nature” by Kylee Kemmet, St. Peter’s Episcopal, Chattanooga
Honorable Mentions:
- “Peluches” by Sara Garcia, St. Peter’s Episcopal School, Chattanooga
- “Honguito / Mushrooms” by Isla Phillips, St. Peter’s Episcopal School, Chattanooga
- “A Savannah Afternoon” by Kylee Huskey, Covenant Academy, McMinnville
- “Stick with Me” by Duke Sims, Prospect Elementary, Cleveland
- “Sunrise Haiku” by Cora Belle Pulley, Columbia Academy, Columbia
- “Calendars” by Chloe Zebell, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
- “I Miss You” by Tucker Winfield, Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville
- “The Pesky Fly” by Adelyn Bradford, Bradford Elementary, Bradford
- “Long Walk to God” by Olivia Ford, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
- “As the Seasons Fade” by Ellee Griffin, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
- “One Shot” by John Garcia, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
- “Seasons” by Jeffrey G. Dean, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
- “Seasons Fleeting” by L. J. Longo, Briarcrest Christian, Eads
Many thanks to all entrants, to teachers and parents, and to judges for making this event such a success.
Previous Year Winners
2021/2022 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - High School
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2019/2020 Student Contest Winners
2019/2020 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2018/2019 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Elementary School
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2021/2022 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - High School
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2019/2020 Student Contest Winners
2019/2020 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2018/2019 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Elementary School
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
National Student Poetry Contests
Annually, the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) sponsors the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest for middle and high school students. Students may enter other NFSPS contests exclusively for students; see the NFSPS contests page.
Annually, the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) sponsors the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest for middle and high school students. Students may enter other NFSPS contests exclusively for students; see the NFSPS contests page.
Student Membership
Students are invited to join the Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) at a reduced rate and enter Monthly Members-Only Contests. Click here for additional information on joining PST. This is a great opportunity to develop skills and become a published poet.
Students are invited to join the Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) at a reduced rate and enter Monthly Members-Only Contests. Click here for additional information on joining PST. This is a great opportunity to develop skills and become a published poet.
