The Walt Whitman Birthplace, a New York State historic site in Huntington Station, is calling for talent near and far to participate in its 2025 Annual Student Poetry Contest, based on one of the master’s most famous poems, “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer.”
Jennifer Orellana, events and media coordinator, said the contest, which originated in the 1990s, attracts thousands of writers from around the world and is open to students in grades three through 12.
The deadline for entries is March 1. Afterward, winners in each category will be notified and honored at a ceremony on June 1.
“The goal of the Annual Student Poetry Contest is to encourage young people to write poetry. Being an artist of any kind is both highly rewarding and challenging,” Orellana told South Shore Press. “Showing children that using their creativity and unique abilities has rewarding results and is very meaningful.”
Orellana noted that while there were more opportunities for poets during Whitman’s lifetime, the birthplace museum, located at 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, is “honored to be one of those places where poets of all ages are seen and heard.”
This encouragement for young talent has helped launch numerous careers, she said.
“Many of our past student winners have gone on to write as part of their careers. Some still attend open mics or write creatively in other ways. We always love when they come back as adults to share where they are in life now,” Orellana said.
First-place winners are given the opportunity to read their poems at the ceremony, which is held near Whitman’s birthday on May 31. Even distance does not seem to quell the enthusiasm among poets, as evidenced by the approximately 3,000 submissions received each year from outside the United States.
“Winners from other countries have even come with their parents for the award ceremony,” Orellana said. “We choose winners from every grade, as well as group collective submissions from classes. The teachers often attend the ceremony and feel a deep sense of pride in their students.”
The contest has grown considerably since 1987, when the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association invited its first poet-in-residence, David Ignatow, and established the Student Poetry Awards under the guidance of former executive directors Barbara Bart and Cynthia Shor.
According to Orellana, “A lot of planning and care goes into each ceremony. Local poets choose from the many submissions. We have had many very famous poets in residence, such as Allen Ginsberg and Galway Kinnell.”
To learn more about submission requirements, visit the museum’s website at www.waltwhitman.org/studentpoetrycontest.
Additionally, the museum annually welcomes submissions for Long Island Poet of the Year.
“Any Long Island resident can nominate their favorite poet,” Orellana said.
The winning poet will collaborate with the museum on new events and ideas throughout the year and will be honored at an April ceremony.
Another annual opportunity encourages emerging young poets, ages 25-35, with $1,800 in scholarship funds, offered in the spirit of Walt Whitman’s poetic legacy.
The Gwenn A. Nusbaum Scholarship welcomes submissions through March 31 for the 2025 cycle. An Honorable Mention will also be awarded $150 and recognition of their biography.
Of the requirements, Orellana said, “Their emerging poetry career should be of exceptional artistic quality and should demonstrate a passion for poetry, an awareness of the power of the poem, an originality of perspective, and skillful use of expressive language. They will be expected to produce additional strong work during the scholarship timeline of one year, from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026.”
For writers and those who simply appreciate the craft, the birthplace is also announcing the first of what it hopes will be many movie nights. The debut film will be the 1989 title Dead Poets Society, starring Robin Williams, set for Thursday, Jan. 16, from 6:30-9 p.m.