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LVW’s Annual Student Poetry Contest is open to all students in grades 4-12 throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. The contest will be celebrating its 34th anniversary. In each of nine categories, first prize earns $25, second prize $20, and third prize $15.

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For the best of the best in each grade group, the Naccarato Award (sponsored by longtime LVW member Michele Jones), each of the three winners will receive $30. This means there are 30 cash prizes—and no entry fees. 

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Due to popular demand, we will now be accepting entries via Google Forms, which we hope will make life easier for teachers, students, and contest coordinators. You’ll find the entry form at https://forms.gle/nJBguYREuFNvKRNq5 We appreciate any feedback on the new submissions process. Please email jgallagher@LHTOT.com with either positive or negative comments or suggestions. LVW would like to thank teacher Kelly Ankney and technology integration coordinator Adam Storey of Ligonier Valley School District for helping to set up the new submission system.

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Please pass the link onto any students, parents, or teachers you think might be interested. Homeschoolers are welcome. The contest rules are attached.

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The deadline is March 11.

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You can read previous years’ winning poems at the link. If you're a kid who likes to write, try writing a poem every day for the next week. Then pick the one you like best to revise and submit. To jumpstart your creativity, here are a few prompts. Write a poem about

  • Any strong emotion 

  • A place you either love or hate

  • Your favorite athlete or sport

  • A pet or wild animal

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Help us celebrate the next generation of creativity in our region by supporting these talented young people. If you are a teacher or you know any teachers, please tell them about this contest to give more students the opportunity to experience the joy of creating and winning prizes with their poems.

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Ligonier Valley Writers Calendar 2025

January. Dues are due for 2025. Still only $30 per year; you can download a membership application from  LVWonline.org and mail your check to LVW at PO Box B, Ligonier, PA 15658.

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March 11.

Deadline for Student Poetry Contest entries from students in grades 4-12. Cash prizes in 30 categories, no entry fee, and an awards ceremony and booklet of all the winning poems. Contest rules are attached

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April 15. Call for Flash Fiction Contest entries. No entry fee. Three cash prizes plus three Honorable Mentions, editing by a professional editor, readings of the six winning stories during the Halloween season, and publication at LVW's website. Deadline is August 15. This year’s topic will be announced soon.

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April 26, 4:00-5:00 pm. Student Poetry Awards Ceremony. The winning poets in grades 4-12 will read their work to the audience.

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May 1. Loyalhanna Review submission deadline. (Reading period is February 1-May 1.) Check LVWonline.org for guidelines. 

 

July (Date TBA), 7:00-9:00 p.m. Loyalhanna Review publication party. Enjoy readings, hors d’oeuvres, and  camaraderie.

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August. (Date TBA, Sunday afternoon)

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Annual LVW picnic. John and Sukey Jamison have generously invited LVW to hold our annual picnic at their farm near Crabtree.

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August 15. Deadline for Flash Fiction Contest entries. No entry fee. Three cash prizes plus three Honorable Mentions, editing by a professional editor, readings of the six winning stories during the Halloween season, and publication at LVW's website.

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September (date TBA). Writing workshop. St. Michael’s of the Valley Church, Rector. 

 

October (dates TBA). Readings of the winning Flash Fiction stories at local venues.

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December 14 (Sunday), 3:00-5:00 p.m. Annual LVW Christmas Party. St. Michael’s of the Valley Church, Rector.

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We’ll be adding events to this calendar as we get confirmations. Please check www.LVWonline.org or Ligonier Valley Writers’ Facebook page for the latest info and date confirmations.

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Events Beyond LVW

Poetry Neighborhood. Latrobe will be transformed into Poetry Neighborhood during the month of April by a group seeking poems written by Westmoreland County residents to be displayed throughout town. “If you want to see your poetry printed on a beautiful poster and displayed in Latrobe, send us a poem under 25 lines by midnight on

February 28,” says organizer Bobbie Hineline. Questions? Call Bobbie at 724-506-3494.

Everyone who submits will be published, as long as the basic guidelines are met:

* Your poem must be under 25 lines (or 300 words, whichever comes first).

* Your poem can be on any subject, but it can't contain explicit content or any hateful speech.

* It must be submitted to Jeannine.pitas@stvincent.edu with the subject line "Poetry Neighborhood Latrobe."

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In addition to putting poetry on display, the group is scheduling several other activities and workshops for National Poetry Month.

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Parsec short story contest. Parsec, the Pittsburgh science fiction group, is holding its annual short-story contest for speculative fiction (SF, fantasy, or horror). This year’s theme is roots. Deadline is March 31, maximum word count is 3,500, first prize is $200 plus publication in the Confluence conference program book. For more info, visit

https://parsec-sff.org/short-story-contest/

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Archivist of the U.S. interview. As a member partner of Westmoreland Heritage, LVW received the links to an  interview Dawn Lamuth of Westmoreland Heritage conducted on January 23 with Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States (and a graduate of Norwin High School). Here’s a link to the interview on the Westmoreland Heritage

YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/1bBdNFQ7xzQ?si=dabH4J6qQBCz4Q99

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Dr. Shogan shared resources for teachers: Educator Resources | National Archives and grants open until February 18: Grant Opportunities | National Archives. She also talked about new National Archives exhibits and plans for the 250th birthday of the United States.

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Judith Gallagher

Publicity Director

Ligonier Valley Writers

jgallagher@LHTOT.com

www.LVWonline.org

https://www.facebook.com/Ligonier-Valley-Writers-124601614313835/

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© 2022 by Ligonier Valley Writers

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