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.