In an effort to recognize and honor excellence in middle school student writing, the Marmion Academy English Department sponsors an annual poetry writing competition open to all middle school students.

Rules

1. Only poems will be accepted. No other creative writing genres should be entered into this contest. Students may submit up to three poems (each 10-100 lines); prose poems may also be submitted with a 250-word limit.
2. Please place your name, school, and grade level at the top of your submission.
3. Please submit an electronic copy of your manuscript as a Google Doc or pdf file emailed to rrebenstorf@marmion.org with the subject “Middle School Poetry Contest Submission.”
4. Entry deadline: Friday March 20, 2026
5. Awards:
   1. First-prize winners: $30 gift certificate
   2. Second-prize winners: $20 gift certificate
   3. Honorable-mentions: $15 gift certificate
   4. All winners will be published in Marmion’s annual creative writing literary magazine!

Note:

1. Prizes will be sent to Winners via their schools or email
2. Winning entries will be published in Marmion’s literary magazine which will come out in May. Winners will receive a copy.
3. Thanks to ALL students who submitted such wonderful poems!

Last Year’s Winners (2025):

First Prize
“Aftermath”
Maggie Hansen
7th Grade, Holy Cross (Batavia)

Second Prize
“Fear Behind Closed Eyes”
Adele Catarello
8th Grade, Kingswood Academy

Honorable Mention
“Ten Crows Sit on a Powerline”
Finnian Donahoe
8th Grade, St. Peter

Honorable Mention
“The Hunt”
Greg White
8th Grade, Kingswood Academy