Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - National Student Poets Program

Grades: Grades 7-12 (high school and middle school students)

Age: Typically ages 13-18, corresponds with grade levels

Citizenship: U.S. students; specific residency requirements unclear but must be able to submit through the Scholastic Awards system

Prerequisites: Original poetry work; must first submit through Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (regional level) and advance to national judging

Students must create original work; previous Scholastic winners are not excluded from applying

1. 1. Create account on artandwriting.org portal
2. 2. Submit original poetry work(s) to regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition (typically September-December)
3. 3. Receive regional judging results (Gold/Silver Medals or recognition)
4. 4. Gold Medal works automatically advance to national judging
5. 5. National-level judges review all Gold Medal submissions
6. 6. Five National Student Poets selected from national finalists
7. 7. Winners announced typically in June at National Ceremony

Materials: Original poetry manuscript (digital submission), Student profile/account information, Educator sponsorship/school submission (typically through teacher/school), Turnitin originality verification (likely required), Any required biographical information for winners

Timeline: Regional submissions typically open September-December; National judging occurs January-March; Winners announced June. Plan to begin preparing poems 4-6 months before regional deadline.

Cost: Submission fees vary by region; typically $5-10 per entry or regional package pricing available

What judges look for:

• Originality and unique authorial voice
• Technical skill in poetry (craft, form, language)
• Emotional depth and authenticity
• Innovation and creativity in approach to subject matter
• Clear mastery of poetic devices and language
• Ability to communicate meaningful ideas/emotions
• Maturity of voice and vision
• Potential for continued artistic growth

Scoring: Judging by luminaries in literary arts; Gold Medals at regional level determined by panelists; National selections made by prestigious literary judges (specifics not publicly detailed). Regional Gold Medals appear to be primary pathway to national consideration.

Common mistakes:

• Submitting derivative or heavily inspired-by-published-work poetry
• Unclear or underdeveloped poetic voice
• Over-reliance on rhyme without substance
• Lack of originality or unique perspective
• Poorly edited or technically weak submissions
• Subject matter that lacks depth or maturity for age group
• Failing to follow regional submission guidelines
• Submitting work that feels artificial or written-for-judges rather than authentic

Acceptance rate: Extremely competitive; exact percentage unknown but estimated <0.5% at national level. Approximately 150,000-200,000+ entries across all Scholastic categories annually; poetry is one category among many visual/literary arts.

Applicants: Specific number for poetry category not publicly available; Scholastic total submissions estimated at 150,000+ annually across all disciplines and regions

Winners/Selected: Five National Student Poets selected annually; approximately 20-30 Gold Medals at regional level per region advance to national consideration

National Student Poets is the highest honor within Scholastic Awards - far more selective than regional Gold Medals. Only the absolute best regional winners advance. This is a Tier 1 prestige opportunity with extremely limited slots.

• Start with authentic, original voice - judges can detect work that feels artificial or over-polished
• Study winning work from previous Scholastic competitions to understand what resonates at high levels
• Develop a distinctive poetic perspective; avoid trendy or overly familiar themes
• Refine technical skill: study form, meter, imagery, metaphor, and other poetic devices
• Read widely across poetry genres and time periods to influence your voice
• Revise extensively; quality at this level requires multiple drafts and editing
• Submit 2-3 different pieces to regional competition to increase chances of Gold Medal advancement
• Consider poems that explore universal human experiences with fresh perspective
• Ensure emotional authenticity and maturity of voice appropriate for your age/grade
• Have work reviewed by English teacher or poetry mentor before submission
• Submit by regional deadlines - don't miss opportunities for national consideration
• If you don't win nationally first year, improve and resubmit next year - many judges value growth
• Build a portfolio of literary achievements alongside Scholastic entries

• Read 30-50 poems from contemporary and classic poets to develop literary sensibility
• Study at least 10-15 poetry collections from different styles/periods
• Take online poetry courses or workshops (Coursera, CreativeLive, writing centers)
• Join a poetry club or creative writing group for peer feedback
• Write regularly - aim for 2-3 new poems per week for 3-6 months before submission
• Experiment with different forms: free verse, sonnets, haikus, prose poetry, etc.
• Attend poetry readings and open mics to hear work performed aloud
• Read poetry analysis and criticism to deepen understanding of craft
• Revise aggressively; good poems require 5-10+ drafts minimum
• Get feedback from English teacher, mentor, or writing group on 8-10 best pieces
• Understand judging criteria and align submissions accordingly
• Submit multiple pieces (3-5) to regional competition to maximize advancement chances

Resources:

• Poets.org - Academy of American Poets (poems, essays, learning resources)
• Poetry Foundation website (thousands of poems with analysis)
• MasterClass - Billy Collins' Poetry Writing class
• Skillshare - various poetry writing courses
• Writing centers at local universities (often free community programs)
• 'The Ode Less Travelled' by Stephen Fry (poetry appreciation)
• Poetry workshops: Young Writers Project, Gotham Writers Workshop
• 'A Poetry Handbook' by Mary Oliver (essential craft resource)
• 'The Ode Less Travelled' online poetry course
• Reddit r/Poetry and r/OCPoetry for community feedback
• Local library poetry collections and curated anthologies
• Participating in NaNoWriMo (November writing challenge)
• Summer poetry intensives and workshops

Time needed: Minimum 3-4 months of dedicated preparation; ideally 6-12 months to develop a strong portfolio. Plan to write 50-100 poems to select your 3-5 best submissions. Most successful applicants spend 1-2 years developing their craft before pursuing national recognition.

National Student Poets are typically: highly accomplished young writers with distinctive voice and mature perspective; students who have received multiple Gold Medals in Scholastic or other literary competitions; poets with published work in literary magazines or journals; students involved in creative writing programs, poetry clubs, or literary arts organizations; those with strong English coursework and writing portfolios; students showing exceptional technical skill combined with emotional intelligence and originality. The five selected annually represent geographic and stylistic diversity but share excellence in craft and authorial voice.

National Student Poet selection is exceptionally prestigious for college admissions. Ivy League and top universities view this as one of the highest honors a young writer can achieve - equivalent to research publication or major national science awards. It demonstrates: exceptional artistic talent and maturity; national-level recognition from prestigious judges; commitment to craft and development; potential to contribute meaningfully to campus literary culture. This is a major 'hook' that distinguishes applicants to creative writing, liberal arts, and selective programs. Even regional Gold Medals carry significant weight. However, college officers value the actual work quality and impact more than title alone - be prepared to discuss your writing philosophy and how you'll continue developing your voice in college.

• YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions — Tier 1, competition