2025 WPSU Poetry Writing Contest
Share your poetry with WPSU for our annual Poetry Writing Contest! We are excited to read poetry from students across Central PA in grades Kindergarten through 12th Grade.
Selected poems from grade bands K-2 | 3-5 | 6-8 | 9-12 will be published on WPSU’s website and the top winning entry from each grade band will be aired on radio during a special episode of Poetry Moment in April 2025 during National Poetry Month.
Explore this Poetry Toolkit with your students to help generate ideas!
Submissions are due by February 28, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Winning entries will be selected by our Poetry Moment host, Marjorie Maddox, with initial review of submissions led by regional partners. The top three finalist entries of each grade band will be published on WPSU online, including recognition of the author, their grade, and school.
There will be an option for the winner to record themselves reading their poem if they wish to have it aired on radio.
Virtual Writing Workshops
Find your writing inspiration with these FREE virtual poetry writing workshops led by Jessica Ram from the Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts at Bucknell University. Join fellow student poets from across central PA and enjoy an evening of guided prompts and writing support.
- Wednesday, January 29, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Grades K – 5)
- Wednesday, February 12, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Grades 6 – 12)
Submission Guidelines
Review the full list of contest rules prior to submission.
Eligibility Guidelines
- Entrants must be in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
- Entrants must be residents of one of the following counties: Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Elk, Forest, Fulton, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, McKean, Mifflin, Montour, Potter, Somerset, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren.
- Only one entry per category.
- Only single-author poems written within the current school year are eligible.
- Entrants under the age of 18 must have their parent(s) or guardian(s) permission.
Word Count
- Poems must not exceed 200 words.
Entry Procedure
- Complete the online entry form.
- Form must be submitted, and writing piece uploaded and reviewed by the author’s parent/guardian or classroom teach by February 28, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Poem Format
- All poems must include a title.
- Text should be typed.
- Poem should be submitted as a PDF (Word, JPEG, PNG and TXT also accepted).
- All poem elements should be original; copyrighted names are not allowed.
- If the students is writing a homage to another work, that work must be mentioned, e.g. “in the style of -title- by – author-.”
- Students may conference with parents, teachers, and peers on their work.
- Open Scoring Rubric PDF
2024 Poetry Writing Contest Winners »
2023 Poetry Writing Contest Winners »
