Ardmore Library - Poetry Contest: Home
20th Annual Charlotte Miller Simon Poetry Contest
Charlotte Miller Simon always had a deep love for poetry and read it to her sons from the time they were toddlers. She also encouraged them to write poems and stories of their own. It was at the Ardmore Library where, especially during the summer, the boys grew to love reading fiction, history, biography, science and poetry. Charlotte took the boys to the library several times a week, and there were always library books at home. Mitch, Jon, and Matt all have very fond memories of the time spent at the Ardmore Library. Charlotte Miller Simon passed away in August 2004, and it is with loving memory that this annual poetry contest is dedicated to her. She would have liked nothing better than to have it at the Ardmore Library. The Library is grateful to its benefactors, Jonathan and Christina Miller, for making these awards possible, and to Charlotte Miller Simon, whose life and love of poetry we remember today.
Entry Rules
- One (1) original, unpublished poem per person, with only one (1) author per poem
- Poems must be no more than 25 lines in length. No illustrations are permitted.
- Poems must be submitted electronically through the contest entry form. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
Divisions
Adult Division - Ages 18+
Teen Division - Grades 7-12
Children’s Division - Grades 1-6
Prizes
First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in all three divisions.
1st prize: $100
2nd prize: $75
3rd Prize $50
Congratulations to Our 2025 Winners!
Since it’s the 20th anniversary this year – there is a new award category! For each division, that winner was selected by our benefactor, Jonathan Miller.
CHILD DIVISION
20th Anniversary - Ani Korsak
1st Place - Mackenzie Namvou
2nd Place - Edward 'Teddy' Lewis-Smith
3rd Place - Keyur Srinivasan
Honorable Mention - Max Baxter
Honorable Mention - Lila Godwin
Honorable Mention - Evan Smith
Honorable Mention - Evelyn DiZio
Honorable Mention - Leah Tarka
Honorable Mention - Addison Aurand
TEEN DIVISION
20th Anniversary - Liam Deveney
1st Place: Han-ya Chen
2nd Place - Cas Bush
3rd Place - Copper Forbes
Honorable Mention - Olivia Anderson
Honorable Mention - Mia Elkins
Honorable Mention - Kate Ma
Honorable Mention - Lillian Murphy
Honorable Mention - Georgia Reinholt
Honorable Mention - Logan Smith
ADULT DIVISION
20th Anniversary - Sandra Choukroun
1st Place - Joseph Lennon
2nd Place - Susan Brennan
3rd Place - Maura Gillen
Honorable Mention - Kathleen Galligan
Honorable Mention - Carolyn Brenner
Honorable Mention - Elizabeth Ewing
Honorable Mention - Amy Laub
Honorable Mention - Purvi Parikh-Shah
Contest Entry Form
Deadlines
Your poem must be received no later than Friday, January 3, 2025.
Winners will be notified the week of February 3, 2025.
If your poem is selected as one of the prize winners, you are granting permission:
- To publish your work in a library printed booklet
- To read or have your poem read at the Library's Poetry Celebration Award Ceremony
- To publish your name on the LMLS website and social media
- To post your photo on the LMLS website or social media, upon completion of our Photo Release Form
Award Ceremony
March 16, 2025 at 2:00 pm
The public, all participants, and their families are invited to attend the Poetry Celebration Award Ceremony at the Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Room, second floor of the Lower Merion Township Building, 75 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore.
Contact the Library
Questions?
Email us at ardmoreboard@lmls.org or call 610-642-5187
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