NFSPS Announces 2024 Contest Winners

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) has announced winners of their 2024 contests! Several PST members received prizes and/or honorable mentions in the contests.

Winning Poems

Seven members’ poems placed in 10 contests and will be published in an upcoming edition of Encore, NFSPS’ anthology of winning poems:

Jonathan Bennett: Poetry Society of Oklahoma Award, 2nd for “By the Water”
Jerry Buchanan:
- Florida State Poets Association, Inc,. Award, 1st for “Walking in Sand”
- Poetry Society of Indiana Award, 3rd for “Fulgurate”
John Crawford: The Margo Award, 2nd for “The Path Back”
Stephanie DuPont: Mildred Vorpahl Baass Remembrance Award, 2nd for “A Scratched Symphony”
Connie Green: Poet’s Work Award, 2nd for “Song of the Empty Flower Pot”
Lorraine Jeffery: Lucille Morgan Wilson Memorial Award, 3rd for “Kaleidoscope”
Russell Strauss:
- Jim Barton, Bard of the Pines Award, 3rd for “Passing Through the Pines, 1831”
- The Countee Cullen Poetry Prize, 3rd for “Voice from God’s Garden”
- Missouri State Poetry Society Award, 3rd for “The Show-Me Shake-up”

Jerry Buchanan, former Regional Connections Committee Chair and longtime PST critique group participant, took home the only 1st place poem in a contest from among PST entrants, for his poem “Walking in the Sand,” along with a 3rd place for “Fulgurate” and an honorable mention.

Honorable Mentions

Twelve members received a total of 26 honorable mentions for their poems:

Jonathan Bennett: Mildred Cummings Memorial Award, HM3
Jerry Buchanan: Land of Enchantment Award, HM5
Stephanie DuPont: Miram S. Strauss Memorial Award, HM1
Sara Gipson:
- Donald Stodghill Memorial Award, HM1
- Jim Barton Memorial Award, HM1
- League of Minnesota Poets Award, HM1
- Social Critique Poetry Award, HM4
- Jessica C. Saunders Memorial Award, HM6
Connie Green:
- Morton D. Prouty & Elsie S. Prouty Memorial Award, HM4
- Stone Gathering Award, HM7
Cathy Hollister: Land of Enchantment Award, HM2
Lorraine Jeffery: Jessica C. Saunders Memorial Award, HM4
Dr. Emory Jones:
- Land of Enchantment Award, HM3
- Massachusetts State Poetry Society Award, HM6
- Illinois State Poetry Society Award, HM7
Lisa Kamolnick:
- Poetry Society of Oklahoma Poetry Award, HM1
- Save Our Earth Award, HM3
- Stone Gathering Award, HM5
Harvey Stone: The Poets Northwest Award, HM2
Cynthia Storrs: Mildred Cummings Memorial Award, HM4
Russell Strauss:
- Poet’s Work Award, HM1
- Illinois State Poetry Society Award, HM1
- Poetry Society of Tennessee Award, HM1
- Florida State Poets Association, Inc. Award, HM2
- The Listening Poem Award, HM5
- Mississippi Poetry Society Award, HM6

Members Serving as NFSPS Judges

Many thanks to PST members Diane Clark, Connie Jordan Green, and Russell Strauss who served as judges for a contest each.

NFSPS Winner List

Congratulations to all poets who were honored in the 2024 contests. Get a complete list of winners and honorable mentions here.