PSI Contests
PSI hosts several poetry contests throughout the year including members-only and public contests and contests for students. After each contest is an award event and poetry event/workshop.
Seasonal Poetry ContestsPSI will host four seasonal contests through the year. Contests come with prizes for the top three poems in each category and those poems are published in our yearly anthology. (Past results here.)
2025 Schedule Spring - Submissions Closed February 22 Summer - Closed May 25 June 21st award event at Westfield Washington Public Library, Westfield Fall - (Submissions will open around end of July. Deadline for entry will be August 27) September 27 award event at Cool Creek Park, Carmel Winter - (Submissions will open around end of October. Deadline for entry will be November 20) December 20 award event at Kokomo Library |
Student PSI ContestsPSI Young Voices Annual Poetry Contest
Submissions Open May 1 to Sep 1 Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest PSI 2025 Fall Contest Sponsor Submissions: Open
Deadline to submit for sponsorship of the Fall 2025 contest is July 27, 2025. Poems must be judged and winners sent to PSI by the deadline provided.
Help pick our categories and poetry forms for our contest. Contests come with prize money for the top three poems in each category and publication in our yearly anthology. Your sponsorship supports these prizes. Sponsors will submit donations once PSI responds via email. |
** PSI 2025 Fall Contest Submission Form Closed **
Please direct any questions on the contest to [email protected]
Please direct any questions on the contest to [email protected]
Submission Deadline: August 27, 2025
Event: September 27 award event at Cool Creek Park, Carmel
Contest Entry Fee:
Submission Guidelines
Please read carefully.
The top three poems in each category are published in our yearly anthology.
Please direct any questions on the contest to [email protected]
Watch the form walkthrough.
Categories and Awards for Fall 2025 (Coming Soon)
Event: September 27 award event at Cool Creek Park, Carmel
Contest Entry Fee:
- Members: Free
- Non-members: $5 (all poems are submitted at once for one fee of $5). Payable via Square: (Debit/Credit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App) or paypal
Submission Guidelines
Please read carefully.
- Submissions are open internationally, to any poet writing in English
- Paper/printed copies are not accepted
- Simultaneous and previously published (publicly available online or in print) poems are not eligible
- Poets may submit one poem for each of the 6 categories. Do not submit a document with more than 6 poems
- Non-members must send payment for the entry fee
- All poems must have a title unless the form does not traditionally have a title. Examples: haiku, tanka, rictameter, cinquain. In these cases, enter the first line of the poem
- Upload one word document with all of your poetry submissions
- Single space all line breaks in the poem.
- Double space between stanzas.
- Start each poem on a new page using page break.
- Use Times New Roman 12pt font on all text.
- Use Times New Roman 14pt font for the title.
- Referencing the category number and topic helpful but not necessary.
- Not following the guidelines may result in an automatic disqualification.
- PSI board members are not eligible
The top three poems in each category are published in our yearly anthology.
Please direct any questions on the contest to [email protected]
Watch the form walkthrough.
Categories and Awards for Fall 2025 (Coming Soon)
Results
Spring. The March 22 award event was held at Anderson Public Library
Categories and Winners for Spring 2025
Rebellious Women Sponsored by Gal's Guide Library 1st Unforgivable – Laura Scheele 2nd All the Women Who Came Before Us – Alys Caviness-Gober 3rd The Witch Who Would Not Burn – Bhavana Rupakula HM Love Thyself and Soar – L. C. Rose Really?? Sponsored by Anonymous 1st Really?? – Janice Miller 2nd Yes, Such Things Happen – Really – Janice Canerdy 3rd Really, You Call That Driving? – Mary Couch HM1 Really? – Laura Scheele Brick by Lego Brick Sponsored by Michael Strosahl 1st Brickyard in 4 Acts – Dennis White (Michael presented Dennis an assembled Lego kit of Robert Indiana’s Love sculpture.) 2nd Pantoum – Lora Butcher 3rd Legos of Imagination – Walter Biskupski HM1 Brothers – Alys Caviness-Gober HM2 Brick by Lego Brick – Mary Couch |
Love of Poetry Sponsored by Poetry Society of Indiana 1st Observe – W. Scott Grant 2nd To Write – Walter Biskupski 3rd My Quill – Mary Couch HM1 the kiss – Laura E. Scheele HM2 Love is – Paige Wyatt Poverty Sponsored by Oak & Amethyst 1st Conditions of Disability – Alys Caviness-Gober 2nd Waiting for Rain – Bhavana Rupakula 3rd Our Shared Mortl Sin – L. C. Rose HM1 Swipe – Jonathan Fuller HM2 Destitution – Dennis White |
Summer. The June 21st award event was held at Westfield Washington Public Library
Categories and Winners for Summer 2025
Cat Love Sponsored by Mark Oehler First Place: Hello to You, Too by Sarah E. Morin Second Place: Sparrow by LC Rose Third Place: My Barn Cat Makes Me Happy by Lora Butcher Honorable mentions: An Ode to Carrie by Walter Biskupski Tangerine Queen by M.A. McDaniel Undefeated Sponsored by Invicta Economic Consulting LLC First Place: Beer League by W. Scott Grant Second Place: When I Grow Up by Warren Sidwell Third Place: Nevertheless, She Persisted by Beth Wolfe Honorable mentions: Long Walk of Life by Mary Mahlstadt Pressing On by Dennis L. White Patriot/patriotic/patriotism (Patriot Award) Sponsored by Anonymous First Place: Patriots by Janice Miller Second Place: Self-Evident by W. Scott Grant Third Place: Patriot is more than a Name by Mary A. Couch Honorable mentions: In Memoriam by Mary Mahlstadt Freedom’s Chance: A Kyrielle by Walter Biskupski |
Fruit of the Spirit Sponsored by Poet Anon First Place: Splash of Kindness by Mary A. Couch Second Place: Regarding Galatians 5:22-23 by Dennis L. White Third Place: Decay by Alys Caviness-Gober Honorable mentions: Patiently by Mark Oehler Fruit of the Spirit by Janice Miller Confluence Sponsored by Michael Strosahl First Place: Big River by Alys Caviness-Gober Second Place: Eagle Snow by Emory D. Jones Third Place: The Meeting by Terry Jude Miller Honorable mentions: The Confluence of Nature and Love by Walter Biskupski Me and Her by Chris Hasara Mushrooms Sponsored by Chris L Ryan First Place: Mushrooms In The Morning by Alys Caviness-Gober Second Place: Grandpa's Mushrooms by Janice MillerThird Place: The Hoosier Mushroom Menu by W. Scott Grant Honorable mentions: The Mushroom by Mary Ann Bozenski The Quiet Ones by Kayla Helmer |
Thank you to our sponsors!
In 2024, the following sponsors supported PSI by sponsoring categories in our annual contest.
Babbling Brook Award - Mary A. Couch
Cyan-Lee Award - Chris Ryan
Dr. Emory D. Jones
Eleanor Cranmer and Caroline Award - Caroline Dewey
Enjoying Nature - Mark and Nicole Oehler
Glenna Glee, the One and Only - Rex Williamson
Hoosier Heritage Award - Chuck Kellum
Invicta Economic Consulting, LLC
Kathy Jo Carter
Let There Be Light - Linda Eaton
Poet Anon
Rachel Wright
The Viola Award - Peggy O’Donnell Heacox
In 2025, the following sponsors supported PSI.
Spring
Gal's Guide Library
Oak & Amethyst
Michael Strosahl
Summer
Mark Oehler
Invicta Economic Consulting LLC
Michael Strosahl
Chris L Ryan
Babbling Brook Award - Mary A. Couch
Cyan-Lee Award - Chris Ryan
Dr. Emory D. Jones
Eleanor Cranmer and Caroline Award - Caroline Dewey
Enjoying Nature - Mark and Nicole Oehler
Glenna Glee, the One and Only - Rex Williamson
Hoosier Heritage Award - Chuck Kellum
Invicta Economic Consulting, LLC
Kathy Jo Carter
Let There Be Light - Linda Eaton
Poet Anon
Rachel Wright
The Viola Award - Peggy O’Donnell Heacox
In 2025, the following sponsors supported PSI.
Spring
Gal's Guide Library
Oak & Amethyst
Michael Strosahl
Summer
Mark Oehler
Invicta Economic Consulting LLC
Michael Strosahl
Chris L Ryan
Young Voice Annual Contest Submission window open May 1 to September 1
Annual Deadline: submissions must be received by September 1
Any poetic form, any topic!
The contest is open state-wide to public, private, and homeschool students in grades 3-12.
Annual Deadline: submissions must be received by September 1
Any poetic form, any topic!
The contest is open state-wide to public, private, and homeschool students in grades 3-12.
Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest

PSI hosts a state-level Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest. Winners at the state level move up to the national level. The contest is open to students in grades 6-12. Deadline is always early winter
Previous PSI Contests (Prior to 2025)
PSI Annual Poetry Contest
Our annual state contest was open to the public and had numerous categories with results announced at our annual Fall Rendezvous in October. See above for details on this years fall poetry event.
PSI Members-Only Annual Spring Fling Poetry Contest
Each year as part of our Spring Fling event, we offered our paid members the opportunity to compete in a member's only poetry contest. The winners are announced during our annual Spring Fling event. The contest is judged by PSI's Premier Poet.