The Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize celebrates the life and legacy of Morris McCorvey, a beloved poet, teacher, and community leader whose words shaped generations.

Created by his family and the poetry group he led for many years, this prize invites young writers to lift their voices, share their stories, and experience the power of poetry in community.

Funding for the prize comes from Morris’s creative project titled “Hoboetry,” a jazz poetry vinyl he released shortly before his passing. Every entry continues the work he began by encouraging young people to speak, write, and be heard.

The Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize celebrates the life and Funding for the prize comes from Morris’s creative project titled “Hoboetry,” a jazz poetry vinyl he released shortly before his passing. Every entry continues the work he began by encouraging young people to speak, write, and be heard.

Honoring a Local Voice and Inspiring the Next Generation

Poetry Workshop

Give your words a home in this year’s Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize.

On Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM, students are invited to a special Poetry Workshop and Submission Day designed to help them write, polish, and officially enter their poems in the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize.

What the Workshop Offers

During this hands-on session, students will be able to

• Brainstorm ideas and start a brand new poem or bring a draft they have already started

• Receive gentle guidance on word choice, structure, and clarity from caring adults

• Learn how to format their poem so it meets all contest guidelines

• Get help completing the required entry and permission forms

• Use computers and printers to prepare a clean, ready-to-submit version of their poem

Students in 3rd - 8th grades are welcome to attend. They can come with a draft in hand or simply bring their imagination and be ready to write.

Turn In Your Entry the Same Day

By the end of the workshop, students will be able to

• Finalize their poem

• Confirm that all forms are complete

• Submit their official contest entry on the spot

This “workshop plus application” format is designed so families do not have to manage the process alone. Support is available at every step, from first idea to final submission.

Who Should Come

This workshop is a great fit for

• Students who enjoy writing and want to try poetry

• Students who are curious but are not sure where to start

• Families who want help navigating the contest forms and submission process

No prior poetry experience is needed. The only requirements are a willingness to try and a commitment to entering original work in the contest.

How to Join

Space may be limited, so families are encouraged to sign up early if registration is required, or plan to arrive a few minutes before the 10:00 AM start time.

Bring your creativity. We will help with everything else.

About the Prize and Eligibility

The Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize is part of the annual Bartlesville Public Library Friends of the Library Creative Writing Contest.

Young poets from Bartlesville are invited to submit original poems for judging. Winning poems are honored with cash prizes and a place in the library’s permanent collection, so that future generations can read the words written today.

This prize is open to young writers in Bartlesville who meet the following criteria:

• The student has a current Bartlesville Public Library card

• The student is in one of the eligible grade groups listed below

• The poem is original, written by the student, and has not been published or awarded in another contest

If a student does not yet have a library card, they can receive one at the library circulation desk at no cost.

Contest Categories and Prizes

Students enter in one of two grade level categories:

6th - 8th Grade

First place: $75 | Second place: $50 | Third place: $25

3rd - 5th Grade

First place: $75 | Second place: $50 | Third place: $25

Each category is judged separately, and a student may win only one prize within their category even if they submit more than one poem.

Student Participation Guidelines

This section outlines what students can expect from the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize experience, how poems must be prepared for judging, and the required forms needed for a complete submission.

These guidelines ensure every entry is reviewed fairly and with care.

What Students Will Experience

By entering the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize, students will

• Practice creative expression through poetry
• Learn how to prepare and submit a piece of writing
• Gain confidence by sharing their work with real judges and the community
• Have a chance to see their poem honored in the library

Winners will be recognized at the Friends of the Library annual meeting and awards ceremony in April. All contestants are invited to attend. Winning entries will be bound into a book available in the Bartlesville Public Library Reference and Local and Family History departments.

Manuscript Guidelines

To ensure fairness and readability, all poems must follow these format rules:

• Length: no more than sixty lines
• Line spacing: double-spaced
• Font: Times New Roman or Courier, size twelve
• Margins: one inch on every side
• Alignment: left-aligned
• Title: placed at the top of the first page only
• Page numbers: use regular numbers

The student’s name or any identifying information must not appear anywhere in the poem document. This allows judges to review each entry without knowing whose work they are reading.

Required Forms

Every poem submitted must be accompanied by:

• One completed entry form for that poem

• A signed Release of Liability form

• A signed Creative Writing Contest Agreement

If a minor is entering, a parent or legal guardian must sign the Release of Liability and Agreement forms on the student’s behalf.

These forms confirm that the work is original, that the student understands the contest rules, and that Friends of the Library may publish the winning work in print or online.

Submission Process, Dates, and Awards

This section outlines what students can expect from the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize experience, how poems must be prepared for judging, and the required forms needed for a complete submission.

These guidelines ensure every entry is reviewed fairly and with care.

How to Submit

All poetry entries must be submitted by email.

1. Prepare your poem
   • Follow all manuscript format guidelines listed above
   • Save your poem as a PDF file
   • Do not include your name anywhere in the poem document

2. Complete your forms
   • Fill out a separate entry form for each poem
   • Sign the Release of Liability form
   • Sign the Creative Writing Contest Agreement
   • If the entrant is a minor, a parent or legal guardian must sign

3. Email your entry
   • Attach the poem PDF and the completed forms
   • Send your email to: BartlesvilleFOTL@yahoo.com

If you need a different way to submit your poem, contact Friends of the Library at the same email address to discuss options.

Important Dates

• Submission deadline: All entries must be received by February 1, 2025.

• Awards ceremony: Winners will be announced and honored at the Friends of the Library annual meeting and awards event in April

There is no entry fee to participate in the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize.

Judging and Awards

Entries will be judged based on:

• Creativity and originality

• Use of language and imagery

• Clarity of expression

• Overall impact

Judging is blind, which means judges do not know the names of the students while they are reading the poems. This is why names must not appear on the manuscript.

Winning poets will:

• Receive a cash prize for first, second, or third place in their grade level category

• Be featured in a bound volume of winning entries available in the Bartlesville Public Library collection

• Be invited, along with their families, to the Friends of the Library awards ceremony in April

Original Work and Plagiarism Policy

This section outlines what students can expect from the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize experience, how poems must be prepared for judging, and the required forms needed for a complete submission.

These guidelines ensure every entry is reviewed fairly and with care.

AI restriction

All submissions to the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize must be created entirely by the student. Poems written in whole or in part using artificial intelligence tools are not permitted. This policy exists to protect the authenticity of student voices and the integrity of the contest.

Definition of plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s words, ideas, or creative work as one’s own. This includes copying text directly without quotation marks and credit, copying significant phrases or passages without proper acknowledgment, paraphrasing another writer’s work while keeping the same essential meaning without attribution, and presenting another person’s ideas, research, or discoveries as original.

Disqualification notice

All entries will be reviewed for plagiarism and artificial intelligence use. Any submission found to violate these originality standards will be disqualified from the competition without exception.

The Story Behind the Prize

About Morris McCorvey

Morris McCorvey was more than a poet. He was a mentor, a teacher, and a steady voice for creativity and community. Through the poetry group he founded and led for many years, he encouraged writers of all ages to put their experience into words.

The Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize carries his work forward by giving young people a place to be brave, honest, and imaginative on the page. Every poem entered is part of that living legacy.

About Friends of the Library

The Bartlesville Public Library Friends of the Library is a volunteer-led organization that supports the library’s mission through fundraising, events, programming, and community engagement.

The annual Creative Writing Contest, which includes the Morris McCorvey Youth Poetry Prize, is one way Friends of the Library continues to nurture reading, writing, and creative thinking in local youth.

FAQs

Who can join?

All youth aged 13 to 19 are welcome to participate.

How to sign up?

Simply fill out the registration form on this page to enter.

What poems are allowed?

Original poems only, any style or theme is fine, as long as it’s your own work.

Yes, there is no entry fee for the contest.

Is there an entry fee?

When is the deadline?

Entries must be submitted by midnight on October 15th.

Get in Touch

Questions or ready to join? Reach out and be part of the poetry magic.

Phone

555-1234

Email

youthpoetry@contest.org