Submissions are now being accepted for the 20th annual Lehigh Valley Press Student Poetry Project.

In celebration of National Poetry Month, which is April, poems will be selected in Elementary School, Middle School and High School categories.

First, second and third place poems in each category will be published in the April 23 and 24 Focus section in the eight Lehigh Valley Press newspapers and websites.

Three students in each category may have their first-place poem and photo (with the permission of the student’s parent or guardian) published on the front page of the Focus section. Each of the first-place student poets will be invited to read their poem and be interviewed on “Lehigh Valley Arts Salon,” 6 p.m. April 21, WDIY 88.1, Lehigh Valley Public Radio, https://www.wdiy.org/

Entry guidelines:

1 The Student Poetry Project is open to Lehigh Valley elementary school, middle school and high school students in the circulation area of the Lehigh Valley Press newspapers: East Penn Press, Salisbury Press, Parkland Press, Northwestern Press, Whitehall-Coplay Press, Catasauqua Press, Northampton Press and Bethlehem Press.

2Poems are to be submitted in PDF form and should not exceed one page in length, using a font no smaller than 10 point. No illustrations will be accepted.

3On the same page as the poem, include student name, age, grade, school, school district, and telephone number and email of parent or guardian for contact information only. The phone number and email will not be published or shared. Poems not including this information may not be considered.

4Each student may submit up to three poems, which must be his or her original composition. Each poem should be a separate entry. Individual poems should be at least 10 lines in length. However, students may submit up to three shorter poems on a single theme with a title on a single page. Single poems shorter than 10 lines will not be accepted.

5Email poems and or questions to: George VanDoren, Student Poetry Project Coordinator, georgevan@me.com

6Hand-written or printed versions of poems may be mailed to or dropped off at: Student Poetry Project, Care Of Lehigh Valley Press, 1633 N. 26th St., Allentown, Pa. 18104. Teachers may submit multiple class poems in a single envelope as long as they are on separate pages and contain the required student information.

7Entries must be received by U.S. Mail or email by 5 p.m. March 15.

8Permission of a parent or guardian is required for a student’s photo to be taken or submitted for publication in Lehigh Valley Press newspapers and websites and for the student to be on “Lehigh Valley Arts Salon,” WDIY.

9Copies of poems will not be returned.

10Follow the Poetry Project facebook page for “This Week’s Poem” and other information about poetry: https//www.facebook.com/PoetryProjectContest