Poetry Contests

   

Since 2010, the Belmont University English Club, a student organization, has sponsored a poetry contest for Metro Nashville Public School Elementary School students.  In 2018, a poetry contest for Metro Nashville Public School Middle School students was added.  With Metro Nashville Public Schools moving 5th grade back into the elementary schools, for 2024, the Elementary School Contest now has one for 1st - 3rd grades and one for 4th & 5th grades.

This year's contests were open to students at MNPS elementary and middle schools. Students submitted poems based on this year's themes and the top 5 from each contest were selected by the Belmont Volunteers for Literacy, also a student organization. Each poet finalist worked with local professional songwriters to set their poem to music at Ocean Way Studios.

The 1st Place winners in each contest receive $500, split evenly between the poet and their teacher for their classroom. 2nd Place winners receive $300, 3rd Place winners receive $200, and 4th and 5th Place winners each receive $100, all prizes being equally shared by the poets and their teachers for the classroom.