Saint Anselm students are preparing for this year’s LaMothe poetry contest. The contest was made possible by generous contributions from Manchester’s LaMothe poetry and is orchestrated in memory and celebration of the late Navy Captain Daniel LaMothe.

Professor Ed Gleason was notably grateful for the LaMothe family’s contribution. Last year, Gleason stated, “In difficult economic times with so much governmental and private-sector funds being withdrawn from the arts, the support for this annual poetry competition by the LaMothe family is as remarkable as it is generous.”

The contest is open to submissions from all Saint Anselm students. All students with an interest in creative writing, even those with little or no experience in the composition of poetry, are encouraged to try their hand.

The competition places no restrictions on poetic form, length, or voice. Students are, however, reminded that prize-winning poetry is likely to be published in print media and is to be performed orally on campus and so must be appropriately reflective of a Benedictine Catholic academic environment. Students may submit up to three poems each.

On April 15, student submissions will be collected for assessment. The student submissions will be reviewed by a panel of English professors.

The top three poems will be recited in front of an audience by their composers. The first prize poem will receive an award of $500, second prize will receive $300, and third prize will $200 and will be awarded by the Academic Dean.

All poems should be submitted to Professor Gleason’s campus mailbox, number 1674.