THE JACKLYN POTTER YOUNG POETS COMPETITION

In 1988, Karren Alenier designed the Young Poets Competition and invited Gail Ranadive tp develop and run the first competition as part of her MFA graduate studies at The American University. Over the years, the program has been organized and carried out by such poets and teachers as Maxine Clair, Lisa Horwitz, Elaine Magarrell, Mary Quattlebaum, Betty Stegall, Jodi Suleiman, and currently Perry Epes. In 2006, the Competition was renamed The Jacklyn Potter Young Poets Competition to honor the long-standing director of the Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Series where the winners of the Competition read their original poetry.

HOW TO ENTER

W. Perry Epes of THE WORD WORKS invites Washington, DC area high school students to submit their original poetry for consideration in its annual Jacklyn Potter Young Poets Competition. There will be two winners selected. The winners and other notable entrants will be recommended for a reading at the Nora School Poetry Series held in Silver Spring, Maryland, on the second Thursday of the month during the school year.

IF SELECTED, the winners will:

  • Receive an honorarium.
  • Read their original work in an outdoor setting near the Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park one evening in June or July (to be arranged).
  • Appear with an established poet at that reading.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Manuscript of five or six poems.
  • Name, address, and phone number in the upper right corner of every manuscript page.
  • Separate cover page with:
    • Name,
    • Address,
    • Phone number,
    • Email Address,
    • Name of school,
    • Grade,
    • Expected graduation date, and
    • List of the titles of poems submitted.
  • Self-addressed stamped envelope for notification of competition results.
  • Submission period: January 1 to March 31 each year.

SEND MANUSCRIPT TO:

      Word Works, Young Poets Competition
       c/o W. Perry Epes, Director
       1200 North Quaker Lane
       Alexandria, VA 22302

  Questions -- Call:

      W. Perry Epes
      703-931-5177

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2008 COMPETITION WINNERS

      Will Frazier of Episcopal High School and Megan Hauptman of H-B Woodlawn Program are the 2008 winners. Both are 10th graders.

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LIST OF WINNERS

1988 - Laura Flippin & Robin Suleiman
1989 - Tamara Gawthrop & Deborah Wassertzug
1990 - Sarah DeWeerdt & Melissa Levine
1991 - Tracee Rhodes & Sonja Weisel
1992 - Guang-Shing Cheng & Cristina Brown
1993 - Jennifer Dante & Erica Weitzman
1994 - Kim Lynn & Ann Strom
1995 - Lisa Cantey & Craig McEldowney
1996 - Joe Bawol & Elizabeth Hazen
1997 - Jennifer LeRoy & Melissa Marshall
1998 - Michelle Gil-Montero & Damon Talbott
1999 - Maia McAleavey & Dora Malech
2000 - Pilar Andrus & Katherine Plimpton
2001 - Shan Shi & Sarah Stillman
2002 - Sarah Shahmoradian & Jessica Talley
2003 - Mike Bushnell & Kino Clarke
2004 - Jeanne Allen & Jo Jimenez
2005 - Laura Fletcher & Haley McKey
2006 - Lauren Schott & Helen Sitar
2007 - Amanda Gutterman & Elizabeth McLean
2008 - Will Frazier & Megan Hauptman

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