National Student Poets Program

2012 National Student Poets Program (NSPP) - FAQ

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) have partnered with the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers to create the National Student Poets Program, the country’s highest honor for youth poets whose original work exhibits exceptional creativity, dedication to craft and promise.

Five outstanding high school poets will be selected annually for a year of service as literary ambassadors for poetry, encouraging a wide range of youth to explore and develop new creative capabilities.

National Student Poets will be chosen from among the national medalists in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards by a national panel of literary luminaries and leaders in education and the arts. Student Poets will receive academic awards and opportunities to present their work at writing and poetry events, and will be featured at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, in cooperation with the Library of Congress. Awards will be presented in September 2012.

Who are the National Student Poets Program partners?
The National Student Poets Program partners are the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the nonprofit organization that presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

What are the eligibility requirements for students to participate?
In order for students to be considered for the NSPP, they must be in grades 9, 10 or 11 and enrolled in a public, private, parochial, home-school or out-of-school program. Students must also win a national Gold or Silver Medal award in poetry in the 2012 Scholastic Art & Writing
Awards.

What does the submission process involve and what are the deadlines?
Students must first submit their work to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Deadlines for the 2012 Awards vary by region and may be found at www.artandwriting.org/Registration
Twenty-five finalists for the National Student Poets Program will be selected from the pool of students who win National Medals for poetry in the 2012 Scholastic Awards. The Awards are judged through a time-honored blind adjudication process.

When will students be notified?
All students who earn National Gold and Silver Medals in the Scholastic Awards will be notified on March 15, 2012. In mid-April, 2012, the twenty-five finalists for the National Student Poets Program will be notified. They will be asked to submit additional poetry (4-6 works total) and a short video about themselves for review and consideration by the national juror panel.
In mid-July, 2012, five National Student Poets will be notified of their appointment.
On Sept. 25, 2012, National Student Poets will be honored at a ceremony during the Washington Book Festival in Washington, DC and begin their year of service.

Who are the jurors?
A national jury of literary luminaries and leaders in education and the arts will select the five National Student Poets from the pool. Submissions are evaluated based on quality of work as determined by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presentation skills in video submissions, and other factors that will be mutually agreed upon by the jury.

What do National Student Poets win and when/where does the award ceremony take place?
The five National Student Poets will each receive a $5,000 academic award and opportunities to present their work at writing and poetry events throughout the year. National Student Poets will be appointed each year in September at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC.

What does it mean to be a National Student Poet and what is the time commitment?
National Student Poets are selected from a pool of outstanding young high school poets across the country, with each National Student Poet representing one of five geographic regions. During their term, National Student Poets will have opportunities to present their work at writing and poetry events throughout the year. National Student Poets will also be expected to share their experiences through blog posts, videos and social media.

How does the National Student Poets Program relate to the Library of Congress’s Poet Laureateship?
The National Student Poet Program is separate from the Library of Congress’s Poet Laureateship. However, the Library of Congress will be involved with national events in September and opportunities for collaboration may expand.

I am a student living abroad. Am I eligible?
No, unfortunately American students living abroad are not eligible for the National Student Poets Program.

Why are there five (5) regions?
Having each National Student Poet represent one of five http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifregions ensures that students from every portion of the country can participate in the program. We also recognize that students are busy with other commitments and want to ensure that National Student Poets can commit the time to travel within their region during their term.

The National Student Poets Program is an initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, in coordination with the Library of Congress and the U.S. Department of Education. Academic awards are provided by the Bernstein Family Foundation.

LINK
Deadline: Varies by region, click link to find specific dates