Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Contest returns for 2023

The Tom Lee Contest is an annual contest for outstanding poetry and spoken word inspired and influenced by Tom Lee and the qualities of courage, selflessness, kindness and generosity that he exemplified.

Now through March 31, Poets and MCs in Memphis Shelby County High Schools are invited to submit their work for a chance to win a cash prize and be invited to perform at Tom Lee Day 2023.

• Read Tom Lee’s story
• Read about the 2022 winners in the Daily Memphian (subscription required)
• Submit your work

The Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Contest is made possible by the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Rules and eligibility

• The contest is open to students between 9th and 12th grade who attend any high school in Shelby County.
• Joint or group entries are permitted, but only one entry per person or group is permitted.
• Submissions must be no more than 40 lines, and cannot have been previously published.
• Writing about Tom Lee is not required, but your work should be inspired by the themes of courage, selflessness and generosity that Lee exemplified.

Prizes

• 1st Prize — $300
• 2nd Prize — $200
• 3rd Prize — $100

All winners will be honored on and invited to perform their work on Tom Lee Day. Students will receive a cash prize with teachers of the winning students receiving gift cards in the same amount.

Timeline

• Applications open — February 1 through March 31
• Review period — April 1 through April 21
• Winners announced on Tom Lee Day (May 8)

Resources

• READ — Tom Lee: A Hero’s Tale in Memphis Magazine
• WATCH — A Very Worthy Hero by Sebastian Carson
• FOR TEACHERS— Tom Lee Contest Curriculum Resource