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This is the second year the first lady has partnered with the
Illinois Association of Teachers of English to promote the
competition.
"Poetry is a great form of personal expression, and I encourage
all Illinois students to participate in this year's IATE Poetry and
Prose Contest," Mrs. Blagojevich said. "I enjoyed reading last
year's entries and am looking forward to what students submit this
year."
"This statewide poetry contest encourages students to believe
their words matter," said Stein. "It also shows young people the
power of language to express and reflect on their life experiences."
Stein, the fourth poet laureate since the creation of the post in
1936, gives frequent poetry readings around the state and maintains
a website (http://poetlaureate.il.gov) to feature other Illinois
poets, including young people. Coordinating a statewide writing
contest for the youth of the state was one of his initial goals
after being appointed in December 2003. He also serves as the
Caterpillar Professor of English at Bradley University in Peoria.
The first lady chaired the committee that chose Stein as poet
laureate.
First-place entries from the contest will be published in the
fall issue of the Illinois English Bulletin, and a selection of the
pieces will be posted on the poet laureate's website. The first lady
and poet laureate also send certificates of congratulations to the
winners of the contest. Approximately 30 poetry and 30 prose entries
win first place each year.
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 The Illinois Association of Teachers of English, the oldest
English organization in the U.S., is based at the Department of
English of Illinois State University in Normal. The Illinois English
Bulletin is also published there. Membership in the association is
open to any individual interested in English instruction, English
language and literature. Currently, there are 1,035 members
statewide.
Only member teachers can submit entries, which should be clear
and legible on standard-sized paper and postmarked by Jan. 31. Poems
are to be no longer than 40 lines, and prose is to have no more than
1,000 words, with no illustrations. A panel of judges, including the
poet laureate, will read submitted work and choose the winners.
Other rules can be found at
http://www.english.ilstu.edu/iate.
First-place honorees will be notified in the summer of 2006.
Poetry should be
submitted to:
IATE Poetry Contest
Robin L. Murray
Department of English
Eastern Illinois
University
600 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920
Prose should be submitted
to:
IATE Prose Contest
Kimberly M. Radek
Division of English,
Mathematics and Education
Illinois Valley Community
College
2578 E. 350th Road
Oglesby, IL 61348-1099
[News release from the governor's office]
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