A national honor from the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and the Institute of Museum and Library Services that names five high school poets each year, each representing a region of the country. Students in grades 10 or 11 who earn a Gold Key for poetry in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards may be invited to apply. Selected poets serve a year as youth poetry ambassadors, leading service projects, workshops and readings, and each receives a $5,000 academic award.
Offered by Scholastic Art & Writing Awards / IMLS. Competition for high school students in USA. Format: Hybrid. Cost: Free. Grades 10–11. Deadline: rolling or not yet announced.
Fields: Writing, Humanities, Arts
Info checked October 2026.
No date is posted for the 2026-27 cycle yet. Check the official page for when applications open.
Yes. National Student Poets Program is free to take part in.
High school students in grades 10 to 11. It runs online and in person (nationwide). Age, residency and citizenship rules are on the official page.
More academic competitions for high school students