(NMI COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES) — Junior high and high school students are set to compete in the Fourth Annual Valentine Sengebau Poetry Competition to be held at the American Memorial Park’s Visitors Center Theater at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
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 C. Younis, the contest will feature 19 student poets representing eight schools on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Finalists were selected by their schools through internal competition.
Younis said that poems are in a variety of styles and address topics relating to culture and identity in the Northern Marianas.
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 the council at 235-4785.
The council is a non-profit corporation dedicated to brining quality humanities programming to the people of the commonwealth.