IUPUI

IUPUI Announces Inaugural Statewide Poetry Contest for High School Students

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is pleased to announce the inaugural statewide IUPUI Poetry Contest for high school students. The Office of Academic Affairs and the IU School of Liberal Arts have organized this competition to foster interest in reading and writing poetry and to provide a forum for students to showcase their talents.

The contest was initiated by Uday P. Sukhatme, IUPUI Executive Vice-Chancellor, based on ones he initiated at the University of Illinois at Chicago and SUNY Buffalo, where the contests have proven to be very successful. "I have received a large number of appreciative comments from high school teachers and counselors who feel the Poetry Contest provides a wonderful outlet for high school students to express their emotions and concerns," said Sukhatme. "The booklet we publish for the winning poems gives students a feeling of accomplishment as published poets," he added. "In its very first year, the Poetry Contest in Buffalo received about 1300 entries. We are hopeful that the high school students in Indiana will show comparable interest."

Cash prizes will be awarded in the amount of $200 for first place, $100 for second place, $50 for third place, $25 for four fourth places and 25 "Honorable Mention" gift certificates of $10 each. Winners will also be eligible for significant scholarships at IUPUI upon enrollment. The winning entries will be published in a commemorative booklet and the winners will be honored at a ceremony on April 7, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. at University Library on the campus of IUPUI.

Contestants must be high school students or home-schooled students of high school age. Poems must be 25 lines or fewer. Only one submission is allowed per student. Entries must be submitted by mail on an official entry form and postmarked by Monday, February 12, 2007. There is no cost to enter.

Information on the competition has been sent to the English departments of all Indiana high schools. For more information or to download an entry form, visit www.opd.iupui.edu/poetry or call Richard Turner at (317) 274-0077.