Previous Story
Third annual Sengebau poetry competition set
|
Posted on Feb 22 2006
Junior high and high school students from around the Commonwealth are set to compete in the 3rd Annual Valentine Sengebau Poetry Contest to be held at the Multi-Purpose Center on Friday, Feb. 24, from 3:30 to 5pm.
This event, sponsored by the NMI Council for the Humanities, honors the late Valentine Sengebau, a long-time Palauan resident of the Commonwealth and well known poet. It is a part of the Council’s efforts to foster local literary capabilities.
According to the Council’s executive director, Paz Younis, the contest will feature 11 student poets representing four junior high schools and seven high schools on Saipan, Rota and Tinian. Finalists were selected by their respective schools through internal competition.
Younis said that poems may be submitted in a variety of styles including rhymed or free verse, sonnet or ode, and must address topics relating to culture and identity in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Finalists will be scored by panels of judges in two criteria: poetry content and recital quality. Content judges will consider the use of symbolism, imagery and metaphor, while recital judges will score each poet’s style and delivery. Poem content will count for 70 percent of the score and recital quality, 30 percent.
First place finishers in the junior and senior divisions will have their names inscribed on perpetual trophies that will be kept by the winning schools until next year’s competition.
The top three finishers in each division will also receive cash prizes and plaques. Honorable mentions will receive certificates.
The public is cordially invited to attend this event. Additional information may be obtained from Council staff at 235-4785.
The Council is a non-profit corporation dedicated to bringing quality humanities programming to the people of the Commonwealth. (PR)
