WATERVILLE, MAINE, March 2022 — Thomas College students, at the Lunder School of Education, are hosting Poetry and Prose Writing Contest for area middle school and high school students this month.
The contest is open to students in fifth to twelfth grade with four categories: 5th-6th, 7th-8th, 9th-10th, and 11th-12th. The top prize for each category is $100 and second place $25. Both prose and poetry is accepted with a max of 10 pages for prose and three pages for poetry. Submissions are due by March 30.
This contest is being organized by Thomas College Education professor Dr. Katie Rybakova’s 21st Century’s Literature class.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for 5th-12th graders in Maine– they have the possibility of earning some money, but more importantly, they get a chance to get real feedback from college students at Thomas regardless of whether or not they win an award,” says Rybakova.
Two student organizers, Kathryn Nightingale and Kate Richards, are part of the class of Thomas College students who are putting together this contest.
Nightingale says, “As a preservice teacher, I am excited to have the opportunity engage with 5th -12th graders across the state as I have helped plan the writing contest and will review the entries.”
Richards says, “This contest is a great way to let students share their creative ideas and show off their talents while getting feedback from Thomas College students. This will help us build connections throughout the education community.”
For more information, please contact Dr. Rybakova.
About Thomas College
Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is defining what it means to be the College of the Future. With a strong commitment to innovation, career readiness, and community partnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges for social mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™, accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programs empower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship, education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields. At Thomas, belonging isn’t a buzzword; it’s a promise. We create a supportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen, valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.