In partnership with the Oregon Poetry Association (OPA), the UO Libraries will award two $500 prizes for high-quality works of poetry by University of Oregon undergraduate students for whom the library has played a role in their artistic development.
Winning poets will also be honored at the Fall 2026 Oregon Poetry Association Conference and have their work published in the OPA Journal, Verseweavers.
Poetry Contest Submission Form
Deadline
- Friday, May 29, 2026 (Midnight)
Criteria
- $500 prizes will be awarded for a single poem on any topic or theme
- A maximum of 3 (three) poems should be submitted, which were produced during the student’s undergraduate years
- Currently enrolled University of Oregon undergraduates (including graduating seniors) are eligible to apply
- Poems must be a final version prior to submission
- Use of AI (artificial intelligence) for writing any part of the poems is prohibited
Application Materials
- One poem per page, saved as separate PDF files (up to 3 poems total)
- Biographical statement (200-450 words)
- Acknowledgments page (optional)
Process
- UO Libraries-OPA Undergraduate Poetry Prizes are awarded biennially (every two years)
- Submissions are reviewed at the end of the spring term by the Awards Committee (a panel of UO librarians, UO faculty members, and Oregon Poetry Association members) who will select the winning poems
- Awards of $500 will be deposited in the winning students' campus accounts
- Awards will be formally presented at the Oregon Poetry Association Conference, held every other fall term in Eugene, OR (Fall 2026)
- Awardees will be required to read their winning poem at the OPA meeting (remote attendance will be arranged for those who cannot attend in person)
- Authors retain the copyright to their work
Contact
- Email questions to: Jeff Staiger, UO Libraries (jstaiger@uoregon.edu). Use subject line: Poetry Prize 2026
Apply Today!
Sponsored by the University of Oregon Libraries and the Oregon Poetry Association