The New Poet’s Society is launching its second annual poetry contest for students from six high schools in the Lake Washington School District: Redmond High School, Lake Washington High School, Juanita High School, Eastlake High School, BEST High School and the International Community School.

Interested students may enter two of their best, original, non-published poems of 30 lines or less.

Copyright remains property of the author at all times.

Poems should be submitted to each student’s high school committee by noon on April 10 and committees will be instructed on how to prepare entries for the judge’s panel, to allow impartial evaluation of the poems.

Winners will be announced and scholarships will be awarded on the evening of April 26 at Eastlake High School.

Last year, 277 students from three high schools (Redmond, Lake Washington and Eastlake) entered the contest and the New Poet’s Society awarded $3,000 in prizes.

This year, founder Rick Smith is hoping to double the numbers of participating students and winners. Cash donations are being sought, to encourage young people to write.

For this year’s contest, the Judge’s Choice award will be $1,000 and there will be a number of $500 winners as well, based on available scholarship funding.

For more information, contact Rick Smith at rsmith2@hotmail.com.