CONTEST INFORMATION/RULES (for NFSPS member state’s
Manningham Youth Chairs):
1. There are two Divisions: Grades 6-8 [Junior Division] and
Grades 9-12 [Senior Division]. Each state’s Manningham Youth Chair may submit
ten [10] top poems in each Division. Poems may have been printed and/or have won
previous awards. Contests held at state level may have occurred anytime within
2009.
2. The competition is open to all USA students in grades 6 - 12
including public, private and parochial schools. Member states are listed at
www.NFSPS.com.
3. Send two copies of each poem. On both copies, place Division
entered [Junior or Senior] in upper left corner. One copy must have student’s ID
in upper right corner (student name, school name and address, and student grade
level. Second copy must not have ID information. Place Division entered [Junior
or Senior] in upper left corner. Do not send copy with any other marks – there
should be no indication of prior award granted by the state.
4. Each poem must be neatly typed or computer-generated and no
more than 50 lines. If the poem continues on more than one page, staple pages
together. Do not staple the two copies of poem together. No handwritten poems
will be accepted. Identification must be on the front page of the ID copy.
Identification must be complete and legible. It is suggested you keep a 3rd copy
for your records.
5. No large or unusual (fancy) fonts and no illustrations. Best
are Times New Roman or Arial (or similar simple font). Font size should be no
larger than 12 point. Winning poems are scanned for the award anthology and
these will not scan.
6. Student ID copy only: student must certify that his/her work
is original and has not been copied in whole or in part from any other author’s
work, including poems posted on the internet. Statement may be typed (and
signed) at the bottom of the poem, or may be on another sheet of paper and
affixed to the poem. If the statement is affixed to the poem it should also
contain the title of the poem submitted. This Statement is an absolute and must
be included to qualify the poem for entry. The form below is acceptable:
Statement of Originality
I certify that this poem (title) is my original work, and has
not been copied in whole or part from any author's poems, including poems posted
on the internet.
Signed:______________________________ Date:_____________________
7. Please, separate poems into respective Divisions. Within each
Division separate the ID copy from the anonymous copy. Please include a cover
letter with the name and address of the state’s Manningham Youth Chair to whom
the winners report should be sent.
8. Deadline for entries: March 1, 2010 postmark.
Send entries to:
Madelyn Eastlund, Manningham Trust Student Poetry Competition Chair
310 S. Adams Street
Beverly Hills, Florida 34465
Ten prizes will be awarded in each Division: First Place - $75,
Second Place - $50, Third Place - $40, Fourth Place - $35, Fifth Place - $30,
and five Honorable Mentions - $10 each. All winning poems will be published in
the Manningham Trust Poetry Student Award Anthology. Winners will receive
complimentary copies. The schools of each winning student will receive a
complimentary copy for the school library. Notice of winners report will be sent
to the state’s Manningham Youth Chair by May 5, 2009. Awards (certificates,
checks, anthologies) will also be mailed to the state’s Chair for the
state to distribute. Top winning poems will be read to NFSPS members at the 2010 NFSPS Convention
held in Memphis, Tennessee, June, 2010.
NOTE: If there is a student who wishes to participate in this
competition in a state not affiliated with NFSPS or a state affiliated with NFSPS without
an active Manningham Youth Chair, applicable rules should be observed. Entries should
NOT be sent to Manningham Trust Student Poetry Competition Chair Madelyn Eastlund (rule
8). Instead they should be sent to:
Steven Concert, NFSPS Youth Awards Chairman
6 Kitchen Avenue
Harvey’s Lake, PA 18618
and a February 15, 2010 postmark deadline observed so they can
be processed properly and records kept before he forwards them to the Manningham Trust
Student Poetry Competition Chair, Madelyn Eastlund.