Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards
Encyclopedia
The Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards are three awards administered by the West Chester University Poetry Center and are given annually during the West Chester University Poetry Conference
"to recognize the important role of arts and letters in American life." The Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards were named by Kean W. Spencer, who provided the initial endowment, after his mother.
for poetry from the University of Michigan
as a young man. The following year, the original two awards—the Donald Justice Poetry Prize
and the Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award—were given away the following year for the first time.
Later on, the Myong Cha Son Haiku Award was added and presented for the first time in 2007.
for an unpublished book-length manuscript of poetry
, the award includes $1000 and an opportunity for publication. The prize is named after former poet Donald Justice
.
or university
in the Delaware Valley
of Pennsylvania
:
, rhyme
and form to one winner and one runner up, the Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award includes $1000 and $500 respectively as well as an opportunity for publication for both.
The following are the winners of the Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Award:
The runner ups were:
to one winner, the Myong Cha Son Haiku Award includes $300 prize and an opportunity for publication in a national literary journal. This award was created by Kyle R. Spencer (in contrast to the two older Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards by Kean W. Spencer), and is named after his mother-in-law.
The following are the winners of the Myong Cha Son Haiku Award:
West Chester University Poetry Conference
West Chester University Poetry Conference is an international poetry conference that has been held annually since 1995 at West Chester University, Pennsylvania, United States. It hosts various panel discussions and poetry craft workshops, which focus primarily on formal poetry, narrative poetry,...
"to recognize the important role of arts and letters in American life." The Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards were named by Kean W. Spencer, who provided the initial endowment, after his mother.
History
In 2005, the creation of the Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards was announced at the WCU Poetry Conference. Kean W. Spencer provided the initial endowment of $250,000. Though not a poet himself, Spencer did win the prestigious Hopwood AwardHopwood Award
The Hopwood Awards are a major scholarship program at the University of Michigan, founded by Avery Hopwood.Under the terms of the will of Avery Hopwood, a prominent American dramatist and member of the Class of 1905 of The University of Michigan, one-fifth of Mr. Hopwood's estate was given to the...
for poetry from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
as a young man. The following year, the original two awards—the Donald Justice Poetry Prize
Donald Justice Poetry Prize
The Donald Justice Poetry Prize is a nationally-known prize sponsored by the Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards by the West Chester University Poetry Center. Given annually since 2006 to one American poet for an unpublished book-length manuscript of formal poetry, the award includes $1000 and an...
and the Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award—were given away the following year for the first time.
Later on, the Myong Cha Son Haiku Award was added and presented for the first time in 2007.
Donald Justice Poetry Prize
Given annually since 2006 to one poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
for an unpublished book-length manuscript of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, the award includes $1000 and an opportunity for publication. The prize is named after former poet Donald Justice
Donald Justice
Donald Justice was an American poet and teacher of writing. In summing up Justice's career, David Orr has written, "In most ways, Justice was no different from any number of solid, quiet older writers devoted to traditional short poems. But he was different in one important sense: sometimes his...
.
Undergraduate awards
These awards are open to all undergraduates who are enrolled in a either collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
or university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in the Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
:
Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award
Given annually since 2006 for an original poem composed in the traditional modes of meterMeter (poetry)
In poetry, metre is the basic rhythmic structure of a verse or lines in verse. Many traditional verse forms prescribe a specific verse metre, or a certain set of metres alternating in a particular order. The study of metres and forms of versification is known as prosody...
, rhyme
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
and form to one winner and one runner up, the Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award includes $1000 and $500 respectively as well as an opportunity for publication for both.
The following are the winners of the Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Award:
- 2006 — William Welsh
- 2007 — Luke Stromberg
- 2008 — Robert Whitehead
- 2009 — Molly O'Neill
- 2010 — Emily Toon
The runner ups were:
- 2006 —
- 2007 —
- 2008 —
- 2009 —
- 2010 — Julie Price
Myong Cha Son Haiku Award
Given annually since 2007 for an original unpublished haikuHaiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
to one winner, the Myong Cha Son Haiku Award includes $300 prize and an opportunity for publication in a national literary journal. This award was created by Kyle R. Spencer (in contrast to the two older Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards by Kean W. Spencer), and is named after his mother-in-law.
The following are the winners of the Myong Cha Son Haiku Award:
- 2007 — Luke Bauerlein
- 2008 — Giaco Furino
- 2009 — David J. Doyle
- 2010 — Stephen Krewson