Students in grades kindergarten through 12, both from public and private schools, as well as adults affiliated with the schools, and Northern Essex Community College students, are invited to participate in Northern Essex Community College’s Eighth Annual Peace Poetry Contest and Reading. Participants may create and submit original poems on the subject of peace.

The deadline for submission is Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Some 80 poems and accompanying artwork will be selected for publication in a small book of poetry to be published later in the spring. In addition, selected entrants will be invited to take part in a poetry reading from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 6 in the Hartleb Technology Center on Northern Essex’s Haverhill Campus.

Since its inception, the contest has attracted thousands of submissions. Last year alone, more than 1000 entries from over 50 schools were submitted. The contest is coordinated by NECC English Professor Dr. Paul G. Saint-Amand, a Vietnam era veteran who is committed to peace. “As an educator, I want to fuel children’s imaginations toward peace,” he says. “A lot more has been written about war than about peace.”

NECC students are collaborating on the project and have designed posters and award certificates, participated in judging entries, and will host the public reading.

Entries can be submitted to peacepoetry@necc.mass.edu or NECC Peace Poetry Contest, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill, MA 01830-2399.

For additional information contact Dr. Paul Saint-Amand at 978-556-3307, psaintamand@necc.mass.edu or visit the webpage.

This contest is sponsored by the NECC Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Foundational Studies and Liberal Arts and Sciences, the English Department, and the Service Learning Committee.